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Europe (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_europe.html - broken link)
Travel Alert
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Europe
October 3, 2010
The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe. Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks. European governments have taken action to guard against a terrorist attack and some have spoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions.
Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target both official and private interests. U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure. Terrorists have targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and maritime services. U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.
We continue to work closely with our European allies on the threat from international terrorism, including al-Qa’ida. Information is routinely shared between the U.S. and our key partners in order to disrupt terrorist plotting, identify and take action against potential operatives, and strengthen our defenses against potential threats.
We recommend U.S. citizens register their travel plans with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website. Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444 from elsewhere in the world.
For information on general crime and security issues, U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's Country-Specific Information as well as the Worldwide Caution, which can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. For further information on safety tips while traveling abroad, U.S. citizens should also consult the following website: Tips for Traveling Abroad
Obviously, you want to be street-smart when visiting well known tourist spots. But, Europe is a big place and the chances of 1) something actually happening and 2) being in the wrong place at the wrong time are incredibly low.
Sounds like the safest time to go to Europe: "Wallahi, they're onto us. Better cool it for a while and postpone the terror attacks. The heat will be off in a few months, we can attack then, inshalla."
But if you absolutely MUST fear something new every day, your terrorist laptop is trying to kill you . . .
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101004/ap_on_he_me/us_med_laptop_toasted_skin (broken link)
Apparently this was something more than "just chatter". A US drone is also reported to have killed German terrorists in Pakistan today, the Geert Wilders trial, repeated threats in Paris against Le Tour Eiffel and Notre Dame Catherdral, threats against major european airports in the "pre-security" areas; lots of reasons for increased concerns. YMMV.
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."
---Helen Keller
Do you think Helen Keller would have been afraid of a State Department heightened terror alert?
so what exactly are people supposed to do in response to this alert... stop going to Europe? silly!
we all know that the threat exists, but hopefully the security safeguards in place everywhere will work well, that is all we can hope...can't live our lives in fear like this.
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