European Travel Warnings Issued
The United States State Department, urging travelers to remain vigilant, has issued a warning to travelers in Europe about possible terrorist attacks. The United Kingdom also upgraded its analysis of the risk of terror attacks in France and Germany.
The alert advised Americans traveling on the Continent to “take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.”
They warned that “current information suggests that al Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks,” adding that officials in Europe have increased security efforts to guard against terror attacks.
The U.K.’s Foreign Office warned about a “high threat” in France and Germany, elevated from the earlier notice of a “general threat.”
The governments of Canada and Japan have also issued similar warnings for their citizens.
“Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers,” the Foreign Office said.
Neither Washington nor London officially advised travelers to avoid European travel. The U.S. alert does not constitute an official “travel warning”.
U.S. officials urged vigilance but said that they are not advising Americans to completely avoid traveling to Europe.
The U.S. warning followed an investigation that began in August which gathered nonspecific threat data from several different sources.
The potential for terrorist activity has resulted in a search for a hit team that could be preparing for a commando-style assault much the same as the one that occurred in Mumbai, India, two years ago.
