US issues summer terror alert for tourists to Europe

THE United States has warned Americans visiting Europe this summer about the potential for terrorist attacks.

In its travel alert for US citizens, the State Department says major sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants and shopping centres throughout the continent are possible targets for terrorists.

While it routinely issues travel alerts for short- term risks worldwide, this is only the third time in 20 years one has been issued for Europe.

France is already under a state of emergency following last year’s Islamist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead and many more wounded.

In March, 32 people died in neighbouring Belgium when suicide blasts hit Brussels airport and a metro station. The Islamic State terror group said it was behind both attacks.

France is hosting football’s Euro 201 tournament, which involves 24 national teams and is expected to attract up to a million foreign fans. It runs for a month from June 10 and overlaps cycling’s hugely popular Tour de France, which lasts for three weeks from July 2.

In late July, two and a half million visitors are expected in Krakow, Poland, for the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day.

The State Department is telling US citizens to be vigilant in crowded places or when using public transport. They should also be prepared for additional security screening and unexpected disruptions. The warning expires on August 31.

Islamic State terrorists have threatened Euro 201 , and France’s security forces have been training for the ‘catastrophic scenario’ of suicide bombers killing scores of people.

Olympic Park, near the eastern city of Lyon, was the scene of the exercise on Monday. It involved emergency workers reacting to an attack during the game between Northern Ireland and Ukraine on June 1 .

Suicide bombers targeted a friendly international between France and Germany in Paris last November.