U.S. State Department issues worldwide travel alert for all Americans abroad
The U.S. State Department issued a relatively rare global travel alert Monday, warning American travelers to "exercise particular caution" wherever they are in the world.
The alert said there are increased threats from the Islamic State, al Qaeda, and Boko Haram, and a possibility that people unaffiliated with these groups might be inspired by recent attacks in Paris and Mali. "U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation," the alert said. "Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid large crowds or crowded places."
Alerts from the State Department ordinarily focus on specific countries and reasons — for instance, threats of extremist violence in Bangladesh or Ebola outbreaks in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. This is one of the busiest travel times for Americans, with millions traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday. The alert expires on Feb. 24, 2016.
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Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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