US warning: Al Qaeda eyes strikes in several regions

WASHINGTON: The United States issued a worldwide caution on Tuesday warning that al Qaeda was plotting strikes in many regions, and urging its nationals to maintain a ‘high level of vigilance’.  The State Department anticipates “enhanced potential for anti-American violence given the death of Osama Bin Laden in May 2011,” said the statement, which replaced an earlier caution version issued January 31. “Current information suggests that al Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against US 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,” the statement warned.

Likely targets included “high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants” as well as places of worship and schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th,  2011.