US issues worldwide travel alert over al-Qaeda threat

The United States issued a global travel alert today, citing an al-Qaeda threat that also caused the state department to close its embassies on Sunday around the Muslim world.

The state department warned American citizens of the potential for terrorism particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, with a possible attack occurring or coming from the Arabian Peninsula.

“Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organisations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August,” the statement said.

The alert asks American travellers to take extra precautions when travelling overseas and suggests they sign up for state department alerts and register with consulates or embassies in the countries they are visiting.

The alert was posted a day after the US announced it would close diplomatic facilities on Sunday because of an unspecified threat.

Spokeswoman Marie Harf said the department acted out of an "abundance of caution" and that some missions may stay closed for longer than a day. Sunday is a business day in Muslim countries.

The European Union said it was taking "all necessary precautions" after the United States issued the alert.

"We are aware of the move by the US and we are in contact with our US counterparts," European Commission spokesman Alexandre Polack said. "Delegations of the EU in the affected region are liaising with US embassies."

Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said today the embassy threat was linked to al-Qaeda and focused on the Middle East and Central Asia.

“We’ve had a series of threats,” he told reporters. “In this instance, we can take a step to better protect our personnel and, out of an abundance of caution, we should.”

The state department issued a major warning last year informing American diplomatic facilities across the Muslim world about potential violence connected to the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Dozens of American installations were besieged by protests over an anti-Islam video made by an American resident. In Benghazi, Libya, the US ambassador and three other Americans were killed when militants assaulted a diplomatic post, but the administration no longer says that attack was related to the demonstrations.

Agencies