Scott Morrison tries to avoid battle with Turkish President over terror attack comments

Scott Morrison last night was desperate to prevent a tit-for-tat battle with the Turkish President over fears he could retaliate and withdraw security for Australians at Gallipoli Anzac Day commemorations.

SCOTT Morrison last night was desperate to prevent a tit-for-tat battle with the Turkish President over fears he could retaliate and withdraw security for Australians at Gallipoli Anzac Day commemorations.

Australian officials are reassessing travel advice to Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit out at the Anzacs and warned that Australians would be sent back in “coffins” if they came to Turkey with anti-Islamic sentiments.

Editorial: Turkish president’s words put Australians in peril

A shocked and furious Mr Morrison yesterday summonsed Turkish ambassador Korhan Karakoc to Parliament House to ask for the comments to be withdrawn.

Early on Thursday, Australia’s ambassador to Turkey Marc Innes-Brown is expected to meet with palace officials to seek further clarity.

There is a view the comments, said during an election rally that drew cheers, could put targets on the backs of Australians in Turkey.

Mr Morrison could have recalled Australia’s ambassador or expelled Turkey’s ambassador to Australia, but there were genuine fears about retaliation and security being withdrawn for thousands of Australians who make the pilgrimage to Gallipoli every April.

Mr Morrison has not explicitly warned Australians not to travel to Turkey.

It comes as Turkish newspapers reported intelligence officers said alleged Christchurch gunman, Australian Brenton Tarrant, visited Turkey multiple times in 2016.

“He also visited central provinces such as Sivas, Tokat and the northeastern Agrı province,’’ the Daily Sabah reported. “This has raised questions about his intentions, because those destinations are not very popular among tourists.”

It said intelligence officers were examining Tarrant’s visits, with some believing he was tracing anti-Ottoman figures, including Vlad the Impaler.

Mr Erdogan’s comments were swiftly rebuked by Mr Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

“I was just deeply offended, as any Australian would be,” Mr Morrison said.

He said he did not accept excuses offered during the private meeting with Mr Karakoc.

“The excuses I don’t accept are that things get said in the heat of the moment,’’ Mr Morrison said. “The excuses that I don’t accept are that things are said in an electoral context.

“I expect, in our relationships with our friends, that we always act in the good faith of that relationship. There is an opportunity, I think, for that to now take place. I will extend the time to do that.”

Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester said his department was continuing to make plans for services at Anzac Cove on April 25.

“The Australian Government is closely monitoring the security situation in Turkey and regards the safety of Australians who plan to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula as its highest priority,” he said. “The current advice is for travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Ankara, Istanbul and in Turkey overall.”