The USA has issued this alert for its citizens in light of the heightened terror activities across the globe
Washington: The world has faced massive bouts of terrorist violence in the past month alone, including the deadly attacks in France, Mali, Russia and Afghanistan that has killed hundreds of civilians. In wake of these activities, the American government has cautioned people around the world towards safety, stating that as per “current information” the Islamic State [IS] group, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and others are in the process of planning “terrorist attacks in multiple regions”..This alert is set to be exercised till 24th February, 2016.
However, a US state department spokesperson has said that,” Currently, there is no reason to believe that US citizens would be specifically targeted. But authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIL/Da’esh [IS] return from Syria and Iraq.”
The travel alert, despite this, has suggested that people “exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation” and that they “be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid large crowds or crowded places”.
Although such warnings are not uncommon, they are rare and they do arrive as a repercussion to some terrorist/war activities. For instance,. the USA had issued two alerts in 2011, following Osama Bin Laden’s death and the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 WTC attacks. In August 2013 again, there was a warning, followed by one that had warned people against lone-wolf attacks after the Christmas gunning in Sydney in 2014. On the other hand, people do not accept the gravity of the warning because these alerts are largely vague and cannot be translated into practicality—the government is giving birth to the very fear that the terrorists intend to create.
Meanwhile, the brutal Paris attacks have left the world community shaken, even as an allegedly explosive belt was discovered in Paris on Monday and Brussels, capital of Belgium remained on end. It is expected to be kept on high security for at least another week, but daily life has been allowed to resume. The Belgian police have arrested yet another suspect in the Paris attacks, making him one out of the 21. The Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel, still believes that the ‘threat to his country is imminent and serious’. France, on the other hand, commenced its air strikes in Iraq and Syria, bombing IS strongholds, which has claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks.
Countries from around the world, especially Europe, are announcing security exercises as the people remain on edge.
Source: BBC
