WASHINGTON – The US State Department has issued a travel alert for Europe, saying US citizens should be aware of a continued threat of terrorist attacks throughout the continent.
“Recent, widely-reported incidents in France, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom 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,” read statement issued on Monday.
Alerting the US citizens, the State Department further said: “Extremists continue to focus on tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities as viable targets. In addition, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, high-profile events, educational institutions, airports, and other soft targets remain priority locations for possible attacks.”
The department warned that “Citizens should exercise additional vigilance in these and similar locations, in particular during the upcoming summer travel season when large crowds may be common”.
The State Department’s previous travel alert for Europe, issued ahead of the winter holiday season, expired in February.
