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Mike · Site Admin Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 4512 Location:

This Worldwide Caution updates information on the
continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence
against Americans and interests throughout the world. In
some countries, the rise in oil and food prices has caused
political and economic instability and social unrest.
American citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of
vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their
security awareness. This supersedes the Worldwide Caution
dated January 17, 2008.

The Department of State remains concerned about the
continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and
other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests
overseas. Current information suggests that al-Qaida and
affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist
attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions,
including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These
attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics including
suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings,
hijackings and bombings.

Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-
conventional weapons, and target both official and private
interests. Examples of such targets include high-profile
sporting events, residential areas, business offices,
hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools,
public areas and locales where Americans gather in large
numbers, including during holidays. A July 9, 2008
terrorist attack on Turkish police guarding the U.S.
Consulate General in Istanbul killed three police officers
and wounded other police personnel. On March 15, a bomb
was detonated at an Italian restaurant in Islamabad,
killing two and injuring twelve, including five Americans.
Also on March 15, two bombs exploded at the CS Pattani
Hotel in southern Thailand killing two and injuring
thirteen. In January, a bomb in a disco pub in the
Philippines killed one and injured eight.

Americans are reminded of the potential for terrorists
to attack public transportation systems. Recent examples
include multiple anti-personnel mine detonations on
passenger buses in June 2008 in Sri Lanka, multiple
terrorist attacks on trains in India in 2006, the July
2005 London Underground bombings, and the March 2004 train
attacks in Madrid. Extremists may also select aviation
and maritime services as possible targets, such as the
August 2006 plot against aircraft in London, or the
December 2006 bomb at Madrid's Barajas International
Airport. In June 2007, a vehicle was driven into the main
terminal at Glasgow International Airport and burst into
flames, but the bomb failed to detonate.
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