Thread: STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUES WORLDWIDE TRAVEL WARNING FOR U.S. CITIZENS

State Department issues worldwide travel warning for U.S. citizens

Wed, 2013-02-20 11:43 AM By: Mark Rockwell

Citing continued terrorist activity in a number of hot spots around the world, as well as the potential for attacks in more popular tourist destinations, the U.S. Department of State issued a worldwide caution for U.S. travelers on Feb. 19.

The new caution updates a similar notice the department posted last July, advising U.S. travelers to be very vigilant to the continuing threat of potential attacks in an unstable world and to take prudent steps to protect themselves.

The department said it “remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas.” It said Al Qaeda and its affiliates, as well as other terror groups, continue to plan attacks against U.S. interests in regions around the globe, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The attacks could employ a wide variety of tactics, including suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings, it said.

Terrorists could use conventional and non-conventional weapons to target official and private interests. Targets, it warned, could include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and other tourist destinations both in the U.S. and abroad where U.S. citizens gather in large numbers, especially during holidays.

Public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure are also possible objectives for extremists, it said, as they have targeted and even attacked subway and rail systems, aviation, and maritime services in Moscow, London, Madrid, Glasgow, and New York City in the past.

In Europe, it said current information suggests that Al Qadea, its affiliates, as well as unrelated extremist groups are actively planning attacks. It pointed to the Feb. 1 suicide bombing at a side entrance to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, that killed one Embassy guard and injured others. Responsibility for that attack was claimed by The Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (Devrimci Halk Kurtulus Partisi/Cephesi or DHKP/C), it said. The DHKP/C has stated its intention to commit further attacks against the United States, NATO, and Turkey, according to the warning.

In the Middle East and Africa, it cited Al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb’s (AQIM) attack on the natural gas facility in Algeria, as well as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) activities in Yemen. It also said the conflict in Syria is also a brewing cauldron of unrest. Al Shabaab, Boko Haram, as well as Iranian-backed groups are also part of a volatile mix of extremists hostile to the U.S.

In south Asia, it said the U.S. government continues to receive information that terrorist groups may also be planning attacks in the region, possibly against U.S. government facilities, U.S. citizens, or U.S. interests. Lashkar-e-Taiba, indigenous sectarian groups, and other terror organizations, pose potential dangers to U.S. citizens in the region, it said.

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/28581?c=federal_agencies_legislative

Indian city shaken by blasts; 12 dead

CNN International

- ‎19 minutes ago‎

New Delhi, India (CNN) -- Two bomb blasts killed at least 12 people and wounded 57 others on Thursday in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, Home Secretary R.K.

Multiple Bomb Attacks Rock Damascus

Wall Street Journal

- ‎24 minutes ago

BEIRUT—Dozens of Syrians were killed and wounded on Thursday in a wave of car bombs and mortar attacks targeting political, security and military symbols of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, according to witnesses, state media and opposition activists ...

Nigerian Security Forces Surround Kidnappers of French Tourists

Bloomberg

- ‎4 hours ago‎

Nigerian security forces have surrounded the kidnappers of seven French tourists in the northeast of the country and are working to free the hostages, a security official in Borno state said.

Current Travel Warnings

Travel Warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country.

A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.

The countries listed below meet those criteria.

Algeria 02/19/2013
Philippines 01/30/2013
Afghanistan 01/29/2013
El Salvador 01/23/2013
Mali 01/18/2013
Niger 01/16/2013
Kenya 01/14/2013
Libya 01/02/2013

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

More INFO

Worldwide Caution