BERLIN (AP) — The U.S. Military's European Command is ordering troops to avoid wearing their uniforms when off base, and to ensure the security settings and geolocation functions on their social media pages aren't "overly revealing."

EUCOM spokesman Navy Capt. Greg Hicks said Tuesday the order was given Nov. 10, two days before three American sailors, who were not in uniform, were assaulted in Istanbul near where their warship was docked.

He says in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the decision was made based upon the most recent threat assessment. However, he says: "We will not get into the specifics of those threats nor the assessments."

There are now around 70,000 U.S. troops stationed in Europe under the command of EUCOM, which is based in Stuttgart, Germany.

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