The US Department of State yesterday issued a travel alert to Americans in Europe, warning of “the potential for terrorist attacks” and urging US citizens to take precautions in public places.
“The State Department alerts US citizens to the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe,” it said in its travel warning that had been expected since US officials said on Saturday that such an alert was forthcoming.
“Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks,” it added. “US citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.”
“We are contemplating a travel alert for Europe,” a US official had said on Saturday on the -condition of anonymity.
News media in the last week reported that Western intelligence agencies had uncovered an al--Qaeda plot to launch attacks in Britain, France, Germany and the US.
The reports said well-armed, commando-style teams of jihadists planned to seize and murder Western hostages in a manner similar to the siege two years ago of two Indian hotels in Mumbai, in which 10 gunmen killed 166 people and injured more than 300.
Intelligence and diplomatic officials in Europe and the US so far have refused to confirm the alleged terror plot on the record.
However, a US official on Wednesday privately confirmed the reports, but said it was not clear when and where the attack was meant to be launched.
“The threat is, at this point, credible but not specific,” said the official, who asked to remain unnamed.
The German weekly Der Spiegel reported on Saturday that an al-Qaeda plot to launch Mumbai-style attacks on European cities was planned by the group’s No. 3 leader with Osama bin Laden’s support.
Der Spiegel reported in its issue to hit newsstands today that al--Qaeda No. 3 Sheikh Yunis al-Mauretani had plotted the attacks and had shared his plans with Ahmad Siddiqui, an Islamist with German nationality currently held at the US-run Bagram Air Base in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Siddiqui was the likely source of information that sparked the recent hikes in Western security threat levels, the weekly said, adding that German intelligence agents were expected to travel to Afghanistan soon to question him.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that it was paying close attention to the developments in Europe, and especially France.
Ministry spokesman James Chang (章計平) said it had warned Taiwanese about traveling to France after the French government raised its national security alert to the “red” level.
Taiwan currently has France in the “grey” alert category, which reminds Taiwanese travelers to France to pay attention to their safety.
The ministry will make timely adjustments to the alert for France and any other part of Europe if necessary, he added.
Additional reporting by Flora Wang
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