In a "Worldwide Caution" issued on Thursday, the state department said it continues to receive information that terrorist groups in South and Central Asia, including in India and Pakistan, may be planning attacks in the region, possibly against US government facilities, citizens or its interests.
"In India there is a continuing threat of terrorism as attacks have randomly targeted public places frequented by Westerners, including luxury and other hotels, trains, train stations, markets, cinemas, mosques, and restaurants in large urban areas," the state department said.
The presence of al-Qaida, Taliban elements, LeT, indigenous sectarian groups, and other terror organisations, many of which are on the US government's list of foreign terror organisations, poses a potential danger to US citizens in the region, it said.
Terrorists and their sympathisers have demonstrated their willingness and capability to attack targets where Americans or Westerners are known to congregate or visit, the statement said.
Their actions may include, but are not limited to, vehicle-born explosives, improvised explosive devices, assassinations, carjacking, rocket attacks, assaults, or kidnappings, it added.
"Some examples include Pakistan where a number of extremist groups continue to target US citizens and other Western interests and Pakistani officials.
"Suicide bombing attacks continue to occur throughout the country on a regular basis, often targeting government authorities such as police checkpoints and military installations, as well as public areas such as mosques, and shopping areas," it said.
The state department said credible information indicates terrorist groups seek to continue attacks against US interests in the Middle East and North Africa.
It also said that a number of al-Qaida operatives and other extremists are believed to be operating in and around Africa.
"US citizens considering travel by sea near the Horn of Africa or in the Southern Red Sea should exercise caution as there has been a notable increase in armed attacks, robberies and kidnappings for ransom at sea by pirates," the state department said. (Original story here)
Some 61 trucks loaded with over 300 tons of explosives have gone missing in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, a senior police official said Friday.
"The trucks were sent from a state-owned factory, Rajasthan Explosives and Chemicals Limited, in Dholpur to a private company called Ganesh Explosives in the state's Sagar district. But it never reached there," the official said.
A massive search is on to track down the trucks as fear is mounting that if the explosives, including detonators and gelatin sticks, reach the wrong hands it could be devastating, he added.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Explosives and Chemicals Limited has claimed that it can't be blamed for this disappearance as it sent explosives only in trucks authorized by the company.
"We hand over the explosives to those who have the license. And they then dispatch it on their truck. Now, whatever happens to that explosive thereafter, we are not responsible for that," Y.C. Upadhyay of the company said. (Original story here)
0 comments:
Post a Comment