Posted on Nov 23, 2015
Did you know the State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert? There have been a total of 6 in the last 4 1/2 years.
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The State Department issued a worldwide travel alert Monday over possible risks due to increased terrorism threats.
The alert comes amid information that ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan attacks in multiple regions by employing a “wide variety of tactics,” according to the State Department.
Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIS return from Iraq and Syria, as well as the threat from “unaffiliated persons” planning attacks inspired by major terrorist organizations.
The State Department said that U.S. citizens should “exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation” and “avoid large crowds or crowded places.”
Americans are also urged to exercise particular caution during the holiday season, and at holiday festivals or events. The worldwide travel alert expires on Feb. 24, 2016.
The alert was issued after multiple attacks in the past year in France, Nigeria, Denmark, Turkey and Mali in the past year, as well as the bombing of a Russian airliner in Egypt, for which ISIS has claimed responsibility.
The State Department said that U.S. citizens should factor updated information into personal travel plans, and urges anyone with specific safety concerns to contact local law enforcement authorities.
A State Department official told Fox News that worldwide alerts “are issued periodically when there is a higher threat level," and are not the same as a warning tied to a particular event, like an election or hurricane.
“We want folks to still travel, but just to exercise greater vigilance,” the official said.
But despite the label “worldwide,” the alerts do not cover the territory of the United States itself.
The State Department said the U.S. is exchanging information with allies about threats of international terrorism.
The travel alert was issued the same day that Belgium's prime minister announced that Brussels would remain at the highest alert level for at least another week.
The increased security measures following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people have virtually shut down the Belgian capital.
There have been a total of six worldwide travel alerts in the last four-and-a-half years.
The alert comes amid information that ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan attacks in multiple regions by employing a “wide variety of tactics,” according to the State Department.
Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIS return from Iraq and Syria, as well as the threat from “unaffiliated persons” planning attacks inspired by major terrorist organizations.
The State Department said that U.S. citizens should “exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation” and “avoid large crowds or crowded places.”
Americans are also urged to exercise particular caution during the holiday season, and at holiday festivals or events. The worldwide travel alert expires on Feb. 24, 2016.
The alert was issued after multiple attacks in the past year in France, Nigeria, Denmark, Turkey and Mali in the past year, as well as the bombing of a Russian airliner in Egypt, for which ISIS has claimed responsibility.
The State Department said that U.S. citizens should factor updated information into personal travel plans, and urges anyone with specific safety concerns to contact local law enforcement authorities.
A State Department official told Fox News that worldwide alerts “are issued periodically when there is a higher threat level," and are not the same as a warning tied to a particular event, like an election or hurricane.
“We want folks to still travel, but just to exercise greater vigilance,” the official said.
But despite the label “worldwide,” the alerts do not cover the territory of the United States itself.
The State Department said the U.S. is exchanging information with allies about threats of international terrorism.
The travel alert was issued the same day that Belgium's prime minister announced that Brussels would remain at the highest alert level for at least another week.
The increased security measures following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people have virtually shut down the Belgian capital.
There have been a total of six worldwide travel alerts in the last four-and-a-half years.
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 7
MSgt Curtis Ellis Considering that terrorist groups are always planning terrorist attacks and the message is very broad and vague, it did not tell me anything that I knew of or were aware off; besides if we start cancelling our plans because of trash like those groups, then they already won.
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
SFC (Join to see) We are Americans and we will do what we will do, so just take this as a reminder to not become complacent when you do travel!
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So what? That just makes people traveling more aware, which is good, it encourages people to register with the Embassy or Face Book and you take your chances. Each day 40 Americans are murdered by other Americans. Forgive me, but you seem concerned about "who" is killing you and I think I'm just concerned with not getting killed at all. Frankly, it's safer in the Middle East.
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Maj Mike Sciales
SSgt L OI- NO" be clear. This isn't a "Muslim" problem, this is a terrorist state problem exacerbated by low information consumers like you who paint with too broad a brush.
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CPT (Join to see)
Maj Mike Sciales What you said, should be what everyone is doing when they travel REGISTER WITH THE EMBASSY when traveling abroad, even if there isn't a warning.
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Maj Mike Sciales
Thanks. I served with State for 3 years. I know how hard those guys work to prepare to rescue Americans overseas. I've participated in Embassy Evac drills (as did my family) and we loaded aboard USMC CACs and were delivered safely to a USN vessel in the Gulf. The job is complicated when the G doesn't know where the tourists are or even if they are in country. Only takes a few minutes, better then trip insurance.
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No "sane" GO would ever sign my waiver to go home (Paris) for the Holidays now..
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