US orders Istanbul consulate families out

The US State Department is ordering family members of employees posted to the US Consulate General in Istanbul to leave because of security concerns.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the State Department says the decision is based on security information indicating extremist groups are continuing aggressive efforts to attack US citizens in areas of Istanbul where they reside or frequent.

The Consulate General remains open and fully staffed. The order applies only to the US Consulate General in Istanbul, not to other US diplomatic posts in Turkey.