US closes 21 embassies in al-qaeda attack alert

The United States issued a global travel alert yesterday, citing an al-Qaeda threat that also caused the State Department to close 21 embassies and consulates this weekend in the Muslim world.

The state department warned American citizens of the potential for terrorism, particularly in the Middle east and north Africa, with a possible attack occurring or coming from the Arabian peninsula.

“Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organisations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August,” the statement said.

It urged American travellers to take extra precautions and suggested they sign up for state department alerts and register with US consulates in the countries they are visiting.

The alert was posted after the US announced it would close diplomatic facilities tomorrow because of an unspecified threat.

Spokeswoman Marie harf said the department acted out of an “abundance of caution” and some missions might stay closed for longer than a day.

The diplomatic offices affected stretch from Mauritania in north-west Africa as far as Afghanistan.

ed Royce, chairman of the house foreign affairs committee, said the threat was linked to al-Qaeda and focused on the Middle east and Central Asia.

“We’ve had a series of threats,” Mr Royce said. “In this instance, we can take a step to better protect our personnel and, out of an abundance of caution, we should.”

he declined to say if the National Security Agency’s surveillance programme helped to reveal the threat.