- 30 minutes ago
- From the section US & Canada
Image copyright Reuters
The US has issued a worldwide travel alert for its citizens in response to "increased terrorist threats".
The state department said "current information" suggested the Islamic State [IS] group, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and others continued "to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions".The alert, it said, will remain in place until 24 February 2016.
France, Russia, Mali and several other countries have seen deadly attacks in the past month.
A US state department representative told BBC News there was "currently... no reason to believe that US citizens would be specifically targeted".
Meanwhile Belgium announced the capital Brussels would stay at the highest level of alert for another week over fears of militant attacks like those that killed 130 people in Paris on 13 November.
In other developments
- An apparent explosives belt was found in a bin in the Paris suburb of Montrouge, which a fugitive suspect is believed to have passed through on the night of the Paris attacks
- France carried out its first air strikes against IS from its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, newly deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, reportedly hitting targets in Iraq and Syria, including the IS stronghold of Raqqa
They are also advised to "be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid large crowds or crowded places".
"Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIL/Da'esh [IS] return from Syria and Iraq," the state department said.
Image copyright Reuters Similar advice, which applies everywhere bar the US itself, was issued twice in 2011 - following the death of Osama Bin Laden and on the tenth anniversary of the 11 September attacks. There was a further warning in August 2013.
The most recent worldwide alert came last Christmas in response to an attack in Sydney, Australia, flagging the risk of "lone wolf" attacks, a warning repeated this time using the less colourful phrase "unaffiliated persons".
Such broad warnings have been criticised in the past, both for being so vague as to be of little practical use and for doing the terrorists' job for them by creating a climate of fear in which governments may introduce repressive policies.
But with millions of Americans travelling this week to celebrate Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday, US officials insist the action is a sensible reminder of the global terrorist threat.
But he also said authorities were planning to reopen schools and the Brussels metro on Wednesday.
IS is believed to be behind the 13 November Paris attacks.
Co-ordinated assaults using guns and suicide vests were launched on several locations in the French capital.
Belgian prosecutors announced on Monday that a fourth suspect had been charged with terrorism offences related to the Paris attacks.
The unnamed man was one of 21 people detained in raids on Sunday and Monday. Seventeen have been released without charge.
Paris attacks: The unanswered questions
Paris attacks: Who were the victims?
Who were the Paris attackers?
Special report: In-depth coverage of the attacks and their aftermath
- Brussels lockdown: How is city affected by terror threat?
- President Hollande's search for allies in war on IS
- Who were the Paris attackers?
- Paris attacks: The unanswered questions
- Full coverage
- Who was Hasna Ait Boulahcen?
- BBC names Paris stadium bomber
- What Paris means for Europe
- Belgium: Europe's favourite gun shop?
- Who was Abdelhamid Abaaoud?
- How the Saint-Denis raid unfolded
- What should you do in an attack?
Explainers
Personal stories
US & Canada
US air strike 'hits 238 IS oil trucks'
- 6 hours ago
- From the section US & Canada
US 'clock boy' seeks $15m redress
- 6 hours ago
- From the section US & Canada
Trump 'wrong' on 9/11 cheering claims
- 8 hours ago
- From the
No comments:
Post a Comment