In a statement released on Tuesday, the US Diplomatic Mission in Pretoria said, "The US Diplomatic Mission to South Africa has received information that extremists may be targeting US interests in South Africa, to possibly include US Government facilities and other facilities identifiable with US business interests. There is no additional information as to timing or potential targeting."
The mission went further to advise US citizens to review personal security plans, remain aware of surroundings, including local events, monitor local news stations for updates and follow instructions from local authorities.
You can read the statement on their website here for further information.
Embassy spokesperson Cindy Harvey said the embassy had received, “specific, credible, non-counterable threat information” and so had issued a security and emergency message to its citizens on its embassy website.
Harvey declined to elaborate on the nature of the threat. She added that the State Department had “no higher priority than the protection of US citizens overseas. Security Messages do not reflect the nature of our bilateral relations with a country. They are part of our commitment to protect US citizens travelling and residing abroad,” she added, apparently anticipating that the South African government might not like the terrorist threat warning.
“The US government, as it does in any investigation into terrorist threats against American interests around the world, will cooperate with South African authorities,” Harvey said.
The last security alert that the United States issued in South Africa was in 2010. Then, the US government warned its citizens that South Africa faced a heightened risk of terrorism during the World Cup.
In 2009 all US embassy buildings in South Africa were shut down for three days because of an unspecified terrorist threat. South African intelligence sources said then that they had intercepted messages between members of the extremist Islamist organisation Al-Shabaab in Somalia and its agents in South Africa threatening to attack US embassy interests in revenge for the US killing one of their leaders in Somalia.
The US embassy in Pretoria and its consulates in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town appeared to be operating normally on Tuesday after the security message was posted.
South African intelligence sources said they could not comment yet.
eNCA American correspondent Simon Marks said further information will come from the US State Department that is due to address the media later on Tuesday.
It should be noted that the 14th anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Centres on September 11, 2001 is coming up so there have been various warnings, however, the warning does appear to be very specific to South Africa.
- Additional reporting by ANA
- eNCA
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Americans warned to 'enhance personal security' as terrorists are planning an attack in South Africa on US government sites and businesses
The embassy in South Africa has issued a warning over possible attacks
It said intelligence indicated U.S. interests in the country may be targeted
However, there was no specific target or timing identified in the warning
The embassy asked that U.S. nationals in South Africa remain vigilant
By Corey Charlton for MailOnline
Published: 14:41 GMT, 8 September 2015 | Updated: 15:40 GMT, 8 September 2015
The United States embassy in South Africa has warned of a 'terrorist threat' to U.S. interests in the country, and advised its citizens to be on heightened alert against attack.
The security message issued by the embassy in Pretoria said there was no information on the possible timing or target in South Africa, which has escaped the militant Islamist attacks seen in several other African countries.
The warning comes amid increased concerns in the US and UK about the threat returning ISIS jihadis pose to the West.
The U.S. embassy (pictured) in Pretoria, South Africa, said it had received intelligence that U.S. interests in the country may be targeted by terrorists
The U.S. embassy (pictured) in Pretoria, South Africa, said it had received intelligence that U.S. interests in the country may be targeted by terrorists
However, the embassy said there was no information on specific targets or timing of any attacks. Pictured is Pretoria, where the embassy is located
However, the embassy said there was no information on specific targets or timing of any attacks. Pictured is Pretoria, where the embassy is located
An embassy statement said: 'Extremists may be targeting U.S. interests in South Africa, to possibly include U.S. Government facilities and other facilities identifiable with U.S. business interests.'
While the warning stated there was no specific target or timing for any attack, it asked those in the country to remain vigilant.
'Review your personal security plans; remain aware and vigilant of your surroundings, including local events, monitor local news stations for updates and follow instructions from local authorities.
This undated file image posted on a militant website on Jan. 14, 2014, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) marching in Raqqa, Syria. U.S. Arab allies Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are discussing creation of a military pact to take on Islamic militants, with the possibility of a joint force to intervene around the Middle East, The Associated Press has learned in Nov. 2014. Even if no joint force is agreed on, the alliance would coordinate military action, aiming at quick, pinpoint operations against militants rather than longer missions, officials said. (AP Photo/Militant Website, File) 350 British jihadis trained in Syria are now back in the UK...
Jihadi John on 'kill list' of British ISIS fighters in Syria...
Trussed up and forced to watch the fuse burn down that will...
'Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.'
Meanwhile, the British government has revealed it killed two of its own citizens in drone strikes in recent weeks, it has also warned at least 350 British jihadis are back in the UK after fighting and plotting terror attacks from Syria.
Ministers today warned that there were more jihadis in Syria orchestrating atrocities in the UK, Australia and the United States after it emerged Briton Reyaad Khan was killed in the RAF drone strike.
A spokeswoman for the police in Gauteng, the province that is home to both the U.S. embassy in Pretoria and its consulate in Johannesburg, said she was unaware of the U.S. warning.
The embassy and consulates in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town closed for several days in 2009 after what U.S. officials described as a 'specific' threat to diplomatic missions in South Africa.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3226534/Americans-warned-terrorists-planning-attack-South-Africa-government-sites-businesses.html#ixzz3lDaPv1J8
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