With the recent terrorism attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, Brussels, Belgium and Lahore, Pakistan this past month, there has been a rising unease across the world. While the rest of the world is grieving for those impacted by the attacks, many residents in these victimized cities are living in angst and fear themselves.

For some students, that fear extends to Frisco as they worry about relatives in these hot spots. The grandparents of freshman Phoebe Mutlu live in Istanbul.

“It used to be really safe there and I used to live there so I guess things have changed a lot, it’s just disappointing to see happen,” Phoebe said. “I’m just kind of scared for my family, my dad always goes over there for business trips. I’m just nervous for him and uneasy about it.”

Like the rest of the people living in Istanbul, Aykut Mutlu has started to pay closer attention to events taking place in his country and other countries being affected by attacks.

“In Turkey, there are some terrorist attacks happening, but not much more than in Paris or in Belgium,” Aykut said via text message. “When you think about it, Belgium has a population, let’s say maybe 8 million people, I don’t know for sure, but they have more than 50 people dead in the last year. We have a population of about 80 million, about 10 times bigger than in Belgium, but our casualties are less. There are some here, but not much more than in the United States or lots of the European countries.”

Facing constant terrorism attacks or the threat of such attacks, Turkish citizens are still growing wary about their wellbeing and their country’s conditions.

“I don’t feel comfortable with what we have, because it was a much safer country before,” Aykut said via text message. “I am not happy with the situation. I am very unhappy, I must say.”

Many of the attacks are believed to have arisen from political unrest.

“I am ashamed,” Aykut said via text message. “This present situation which is not good, is due to the unsound politics of the people, the politicians.”

The fear of future attacks and harm is what keeps many concerned over what is happening thousands of miles away.

“I wasn’t really surprised about this because it has sadly been happening more recently, but I was just scared that it might escalate even more,” Phoebe said. “I don’t want my family and friends to get hurt and I don’t want them to have to see these things going on.”