The US State Department has urged Americans travelling to Europe during the holiday season to exercise caution. A travel alert said global terrorist groups still have the capability to carry out attacks in the continent.
The United States has called on its citizens to exercise “additional vigilance” when visiting popular tourists attractions in Europe during the upcoming holiday season.
In a travel alert issued Thursday, the US State Department said a series of terror attacks across Europe showed that international terror groups such as the “Islamic State” and al-Qaida were still capable of executing attacks in the continent.
Washington has been warning its citizens to beware of extremist attacks in European cities, especially during festive events. The latest travel alert, which specifically mentions the holiday season, expires on January 31, 2018.
The alert mentions deadly attacks at a Christmas market in the German capital Berlin in December and a nightclub in Istanbul in Turkey on New Year’s Eve.
“US citizens should always be alert to the possibility that terrorist sympathizers or self-radicalized extremists may conduct attacks with little or no warning,” the State Department warned.
The alert said extremists continued to focus on tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, and local government facilities as viable targets. It also listed a host of possible soft targets like airports and restaurants.
The State Department said it continues to work closely with its European partners and allies on the threat from international terrorism and asked those travelling between countries in Europe to check the local US embassy or consulate website for any recent security messages.
