İstanbul Mayor's security increased due to assassination threat

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İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's security has been increased due to an assassination threat, İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality's spokesperson has confirmed.

OdaTV first reported about a possible assassination threat against İmamoğlu, claiming thatİmamoğlu's security team were told to be more "careful and responsive" against a possible attempt and the militants were nabbed "at the last minute."

The mayor was also informed and the governor assigned additional police officers to protect him, according to the report, which did not cite any sources.

T24 later confirmed the assassination plan and the increase in security measures, quoting sources from the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality. However, the sources said that they had no information regarding the capture of militants.

The municipality's spokesperson, Murat Ongun, confirmed on Twitter that they were warned by the Security Directorate and the mayor's security has been increased.

In a statement released a after the reports, the İstanbul Security Directorate refuted OdaTV's report that a suspect was caught and said there were "no attempts as reported".

From time to time, it receives information on possible assassination plots against state officials and informs relevant people about threats, said the directorate, without mentioning the mayor. (EKN/VK)