Washington: The US on Friday issued a worldwide travel alert to its citizens, warning them against threats from terrorists mainly al Qaeda who may carry out attacks by employing suicide operations, kidnappings and bombings.
Cautioning them to be alert, the State Department said there had been several incidents in this regard in the recent past. It also said that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning.
"US citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness," the State Department said in a `Worldwide Caution`.
Expressing concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and other violent actions against US citizens and interests overseas, the State Department said Americans are reminded that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning.
"Current information suggests that al Qaeda and affiliated organisations continue to plan terrorist attacks against US interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East," the statement said, adding that these attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics including suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, and bombings.
According to the State Department, extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target both official and private interests.
Examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and locales where Americans gather in large numbers, including during holidays, it said.
Through this travel alert Americans were also reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems.
On December 25, a Nigerian national attempted to detonate a bomb on board a US airliner landing in Detroit; Yemen-based al Qaeda affiliates claimed responsibility for the incident, it said.
"Police officers arrested a man with explosives at the New Delhi Railway station in New Delhi, India on August 25, 2009; and suspected Maoist rebels detonated several explosives at the railway station in Orissa, India on the same day," the State Department said.
Other incidents include multiple anti-personnel mine detonations on passenger buses in June 2008 in Sri Lanka, multiple terrorist attacks on trains in India in 2006, the July 2005 London Underground bombings, and the March 2004 train attacks in Madrid.
PTI
