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Global terror alert issued, al-Qaeda attacks expected
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The United States has issued a worldwide alert warning of plans by al-Qaeda to launch an attack in the Middle East or North Africa in August.
The State Department said attacks were possible "particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula."
"Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organisations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August," the State Department said in a worldwide travel alert for US citizens.
The alert warned of "the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure."
The State Department's warning to US citizens comes only a day after announcing that a number of embassies would shut this Sunday as a precaution.
Diplomatic posts in Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and other countries will close out of concerns about a possible plot.
Marie Harf, state department spokesman, said it was a "precautionary" step, but declined to specify the threat or which US embassies would be closed.
The US has been especially cautious about security since an attack on its consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11 last year. Christopher Stevens, the US ambassador, and three other Americans, died during the attack.
Reports emerged on Thursday night that the CIA has been subjecting operatives to monthly polygraph tests in an attempt to suppress details of an arms smuggling operation that was ongoing when the attack took place.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ror-fears.html
Update: The UK is also closing it's embassy in Yemen, but has not changed it's current terrorism threat level, which remains as:
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In mainland Britain, the threat level is substantial from international terrorism and moderate from Northern Ireland-related terrorism.
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