U.S. Issues Travel Alert for Europe Due to Terrorist Threat
The State Department issued travel alerts Sunday urging citizens to be vigilant about
possible terrorist attacks, citing Al Qaeda as one possible threat. Similarly, the British government raised the threat level for Britons in France and Germany from "general" to "high."According to intelligence received by American and European officials last week, there are possible plots to launch attacks on Britain, France, or Germany.
In response, the U.S. government has carried out drone strikes against militants in Pakistan's tribal areas, though it is unclear whether or not the threat has been eliminated. According to Reuters, 18 militants have been killed so far in a record 22 drone strikes that were carried out by the CIA.
According to the New York Times, the British home secretary, Theresa May, said in a statement Sunday, "We face a real and serious threat from terrorism. Our threat level remains at severe -- meaning that an attack is highly likely."
The British foreign office warned "attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers."
On Tuesday, the Eiffel Tower was evacuated after a bomb threat was called in from a telephone booth. Although it was the second threat the tower has received in two weeks, bomb experts found nothing unusual, and the tower was re-opened within a few hours. According to the Guardian, French intelligence services have received information about the possibility of attacks, but not about specific plots.
In its travel alert, the State Department said, "Current information suggests that al-Qa'ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks. European governments have taken action to guard against a terrorist attack and some have spoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions."
American citizens living and travelling abroad are advised to remember that this is only a travel alert, not a travel warning, which actively discourages Americans from travelling to dangerous areas. The State Department does not want to negatively affect tourism to France, Germany, and the UK, but advises U.S. citizens to "take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling."
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