Public Announcement--October 12, 2006

This Public Announcement updates information on the
continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence
against Americans and interests overseas.  This supersedes
the Worldwide Caution dated June 6, 2006 and expires on
April 9, 2007.
 
The Department of State remains concerned about the
continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and
other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests
overseas.  Current information suggests that al-Qa'ida and
affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist
attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions,
including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  These
attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics to include
assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings.
 
Ongoing events in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle
East have resulted in demonstrations and associated
violence in several countries.  Americans are reminded
that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or
no warning.
 
In August 2006, British authorities arrested a
significant number of extremists engaged in a plot to
destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United
Kingdom to the United States.  The September 2006 attack
on the U.S. Embassy in Syria and the March 2006 bombing
near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, illustrate
the continuing desire of extremists to strike American
targets.
 
Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-
conventional weapons, and target both official and private
interests.  A series of bombings in Thailand in May and
September 2006 which targeted tourist destinations, the
bombings in the Egyptian resort town of Dahab in April
2006, the bombings at a market in Palu, Indonesia in
December 2005, the hotel bombings in Jordan in early
November 2005 and the bombing of a crowded marketplace in
New Delhi in October 2005 illustrate how terrorists
exploit vulnerabilities associated with soft targets.
Additional examples of such targets include high-profile
sporting events, residential areas, business offices,
clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public
areas and locales where Americans gather in large numbers,
including during holidays.  Financial or economic targets
of value may also be considered as possible venues; the
failed attack on the Abqaiq oil processing facility in
Saudi Arabia in late February 2006 is one such example.
 
In the wake of the August 2006 plot against aircraft
in London, numerous terrorist attacks on trains in India
in 2006, the July 2005 London Underground bombings, and
the March 2004 train attacks in Madrid, Americans are
reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public
transportation systems.  In addition, extremists may also
select aviation and maritime services as possible targets.
 
U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a
high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and
take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal
security.  For additional information, please refer to "A
Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov.
 
U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a
heightened state of alert.  These facilities may
temporarily close or periodically suspend public services
to assess their security posture.  In those instances,
U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to
provide emergency services to U.S. citizens.  Americans
abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain
contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
 
As the Department continues to develop information on
any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas,
it shares credible threat information through its Consular
Information Program documents, available on the Internet
at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on
the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information
on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free
in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular
toll line at 1-202-501-4444.