Becca Gomby | Security Analyst | Abt Associates

O: 301.347.5834| Rebecca_Gomby@abtassoc.com

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Worldcue^® Alert
Severity: Warning Alert

Security: US State Department issues worldwide travel alert Aug. 2 warning of the potential for an Al-Qaeda terror attack. No specific attack target provided.

This alert affects Africa

This alert began 02 Aug 2013 20:43 GMT and is scheduled to expire 31 Aug 2013 23:59 GMT.

Summary
The US State Department issued a worldwide travel alert Aug. 2 warning of a potential Al-Qaeda terrorist attack. The warning indicated that the terrorist group continues to plan terror attacks around the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. Attacks emanating from Al-Qaeda and affiliated groups operating in the region and elsewhere are also possible.

The alert warned that terrorists have attacked both official and private interests in the past, including public transportation systems and tourist infrastructure. However, the alert did not specify any targets associated with the latest threat. The travel alert will remain in effect through Aug. 31.

Background and Analysis
The worldwide alert was issued a day after the US State Department announced that a number of embassies and consulates will remain closed on Sunday, Aug. 4, in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, in the Sahel. Those closures are apparently emanating from an Al-Qaeda threat, though details about the alleged plot have not been disclosed. However, officials did note that the closures may be extended. The number of embassy closures is relatively small, likely due to the fact that most US embassies around the world are closed on Sundays. However, additional embassies and consulates may close around the world Aug. 5 if the threat is deemed to be ongoing.

The closure of the diplomatic facilities, and associated heightened security measures, could prompt militant groups to instead strike against so-called "soft targets." In the past, such targets have included public transportation, airports and planes, hotels, and other popular tourist sites. Because of the limited information available regarding the most recent threat, it is difficult to predict where the militants are planning to strike; however, the overall risk to most countries in the region is deemed to be low.

The US State Department periodically issues alerts regarding specific threats based on gathered intelligence; most of those threats never materialize, either because the intelligence was incomplete or because increased security deterred the attack. Due to intelligence sharing between many countries, additional countries may issue similar alerts in the coming days.

Advice
Use caution near US diplomatic facilities that have been previously identified as potential targets. In general, travelers should stay alert, especially in public areas, and observe the same precautions as one would during any travel abroad.

Resource
Travel Alert: travel.state.gov/travel

Related Advice: Recognizing suspicious objects and the threat of hidden explosives while traveling.
Related Advice: General guidelines to protect yourself against terrorism.

Resilience against the impact of global threats will depend on how prepared you are and how fast you can respond. Licensed users can visit Worldcue® Global Control Center at https://gcc.worldcue.com to immediately assess the impact of this Alert on your people, facilities and supply chain.

Traveling employees and expatriates may visit their personal traveler Web-site at https://traveler.worldcue.com to change alert delivery preferences, modify itineraries and update personal profiles.

The information in this document is provided by iJET Intelligent Risk Systems. While iJET constantly monitors the changing world situation and strives for accuracy and timeliness, this information is provided to you on an "as is" basis, and your use of this information is at your own risk.

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