Terror attacks spark alerts
NZ urges vigilance in public places like Britomart after US worldwide travel alert on Isis
United States citizens are under a rare global terror warning, prompting an acknowledgement by New Zealand security experts that even large public gatherings here could become targets.
In a worldwide travel alert issued yesterday, the US State Department warned Americans everywhere of information suggesting that Isis (Islamic State) and other terror groups were continuing to plan attacks “in multiple regions”.
It noted an additional threat from unaffiliated — lone wolf — individuals inspired by major terror groups, and that extremists had included large sporting events, theatres, open markets and aviation services in attacks through Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
US citizens were urged to be vigilant when in public places or using transportation, and to exercise particular caution during the coming holiday season.
Although the Government continues to rate the domestic risk here as low, meaning an intelligence services are obviously completely tied into the western networks trying to fight them and the bad guys know that.”
AT operations centre manager John Strawbridge said it would “for obvious reasons” not comment on the details of security at any of its facilities, except to note it had CCTV coverage under 24-hour monitoring across its networks.
An Auckland Airport spokesman said his company held regular discussions with the police and other government agencies about security but it was not appropriate to disclose details.
Waikato University law professor Alexander Gillespie said the number of terror attacks in the US had declined under tighter security and surveillance, meaning Americans tended to be at more risk when travelling overseas.
He appealed for the public not to overreact.
“People have a much greater risk of dying of domestic violence in this country than we have of a terror incident ... ”