US issues holiday alert for American travelers
By Li Yingqi
People's Daily app
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Photo: AFP/Jonathan Nackstrand

People's Daily - US State Department officials issued a high alert on November 15, warning Americans in Europe during the holiday season of possible terrorist threats.

“The State Department alerts US citizens to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season,” read an updated alert on November 16.

“In addition, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, high-profile events, airports and other soft targets remain priority locations for possible attacks. US citizens should exercise additional vigilance in these and similar locations,” the alert also read.

US officials said, “Recent, widely-reported incidents in France, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Finland demonstrate that the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS or Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, and their affiliates have the ability to plan and execute terrorist attacks in Europe.”

Australia and Canada also issued high alerts, warning its citizens visiting the UK of terrorist threats and attacks.

London’s Winter Wonderland Christmas fair opened Friday surrounded by concrete barriers and safety fences while police patrolled the area.

A spokesperson from the local police department said, “The public may see additional protective security measures and barriers at events this year, in response to a number of vehicle-based terrorist attacks we have sadly seen both here in the UK and abroad.”

The US alert expires January 31, 2018.