THE UNITED STATES has warned of the risk of a terror attack in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep close to the Syrian border on businesses frequented by Westerners, including the popular coffee chain Starbucks.

The US embassy in Ankara said in a message to citizens that there are reports of a police investigation into a “terror cell” in Gaziantep, which in August was hit by a deadly suicide bombing on a wedding blamed on Islamic State (IS) jihadists.

It said the information suggests the jihadists are “possibly targeting” shopping centres, Starbucks, the popular upscale Turkish restaurant chain Big Chef or other businesses frequented by Western customers.

“US citizens in Gaziantep are advised to exercise caution when patronising these sorts of businesses and to avoid them if possible,” it said in the notice published late yesterday

A major city lying just 60 km north of the Syrian border, Gaziantep has become a hub for Syrians fleeing the civil war in their country.

- © AFP, 2016