Geo436.com blog: US, UK raise terrorism threat level in Europe

Geo436 WASHINGTON/LONDON: The United States and Britain warned their citizens on Sunday of an increased risk of terrorist attacks in Europe, with Washington saying al Qaeda might target transport infrastructure.

The US State Department issued a warning directed at American citizens travelling in Europe, without singling out any specific countries.

Britain raised the terrorism threat level in its advice for citizens travelling to Germany and France to “high” from “general”. It left the threat level at home unchanged at “severe”, meaning an attack is highly likely, and said it agreed with the US assessment for the continent as a whole.

The moves came after a week in which a number of European officials had partially confirmed media reports that new intelligence indicated possible attacks on the continent.

The US State Department travel alert said public transportation systems and other tourism-related facilities could be targets, noting that past attacks had struck rail, airline and boat services.

“The State Department alerts US citizens to the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe. Current information suggests that al Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks,” it said.

“European governments have taken action to guard against a terrorist attack and some have spoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions,” it added.

The alert was posted on its website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_europe.html.

CONSTANT REVIEW

A spokesman for Britain”s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) declined to detail why the travel advice for France and Germany had been updated.

“Like other large European countries, they have a high threat of terrorism, which is reflected in our updated advice.”

Advice is under constant review and draws on a variety of sources, the FCO said.

British Home Secretary (interior minister) Theresa May said Washington”s decision to change its advice for Europe was “consistent with our assessment”.

“As we have consistently made clear, we face a real and serious threat from terrorism. Our threat level remains at severe, meaning that an attack is highly likely,” she said.

A new potential threat was outlined last week in media reports, partially confirmed by European officials, that Europe could be the target of attacks.

A German security source on Wednesday said there were “increasing rumblings” about potential attacks but the German Interior Ministry said at the time there was no reason to raise the national alert level.

Sweden raised its terrorism threat level on Friday, although it said it was still lower than in other European countries and an attack was not believed to be imminent.