State Department Issues Travel Warning For Europe Over Terrorist Attack Risk

The United States on Thursday issued a statement cautioning its citizens about traveling to Europe as they suspect a high possibility of terrorist attacks in the region.

The report by the U.S. State Department mentioned terror-related incidents that happened in Europe last year such as the Christmas market attack in Berlin in December and the Istanbul nightclub shooting on New Year’s Eve, to reiterate that terrorist organizations like Islamic State (IS), al Qaeda and their other subsidiaries are capable of attacking Europe.

The report said regardless of the fact that local governments are trying to deploy their counterterrorism tactics, the department is more concerned about the possibility of future attacks.

“U.S. citizens should always be alert to the possibility that terrorist sympathizers or self-radicalized extremists may conduct attacks with little or no warning,” the report added.

The security warning will be operational till Jan. 31, 2018.

Europe has been plagued by multiple terrorist attacks in the recent times. Some of the notable incidents include the April 20 shooting in Paris, just before the presidential elections, that killed four and injured 15, for which the IS claimed responsibility; the May 22 bombing in Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, where at least 22 were killed and 59 injured; and the Dec. 19, 2016, Berlin market attack, where a man named Anis Amri drove a truck through a populated Christmas market killing 12 and injuring more than 60 people.

The State Department report went on to say, “Extremists continue to focus on tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities as viable targets.”

It also stated hotels, restaurants, places of worship, educational institutions, high-profile events and airports are the areas where the attacks are most likely to happen.

“U.S. citizens should exercise additional vigilance in these and similar locations,” the report said.

In addition to this, the report also mentioned people, who will be traveling to a particular destination, should check the website of the U.S. Embassy or the consulate of the destination to ascertain whether there is any security threat.

The report, however, didn’t give an update on whether the U.S. has gathered information on any particular terrorist attack, BNO News-a Dutch media organization-reported.

The statement also gave some tips to the travelers. They were advised to follow the instructions of the local police, be ready for more security checks and have emergency action plans, to name a few. The report also advised travelers to register themselves in a program named Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). It is a free service that allows U.S. citizens traveling abroad to register their trip with the country’s nearest embassy or consulate.

The report ended by saying, “We continue to work closely with our European partners and allies on the threat from international terrorism."