On 10 occasions this week AlertsUSA subscribers were notified via SMS messages to their mobile devices regarding a variety of safety and security matters.
Most important for this report, on Wednesday AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of a security alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia warning American citizens in the country to exercise caution in public places following an explosion at a non-Muslim cemetery in central Jeddah. In this incident, at least three people were wounded when an explosive device was detonated during a ceremony organized by the French Consulate to commemorate the end of World War I. The event was attended by representatives and diplomats of France, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. The ceremony was one of many held across Europe and and around the world to commemorate Remembrance Day, which marks the 102nd anniversary of the armistice signed by Germany and Allied countries.
On Thursday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement issued through its official channel on Telegram, the group said that its “soldiers” had managed to hide a homemade bomb in the cemetery on Wednesday that then exploded after several “consuls of crusading countries” gathered there. In a second statement, the Islamic State said they were primarily targeting the French consul general, who attended the ceremony, over what it said was France’s insistence on publishing cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad. As AlertsUSA has previously reported, depictions of the Prophet Mohammad are considered blasphemous by Muslims.
Readers are reminded that in just the last five weeks there have been multiple attacks in France including two separate incidents where victims were beheaded, multiple attacks on police, and a meat cleaver attack outside of the old editorial offices of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris.
On Thursday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of a security alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden warning American citizens to keep a low profile and to maintain sound personal security practices countrywide due to the threat of terrorism.
"Terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations continue to plot possible near-term attacks around the world. Terrorists are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, and vehicles – to target crowds more effectively.
The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Sweden to be vigilant when visiting tourist locations, shopping malls, airports, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, transportation hubs, and other public places."
A similar message was also issued this week by the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg.
Two weeks ago France raised its national security alert to its highest level.
Last week the UK's terror threat level was raised from "substantial" to "severe," meaning an attack is now judged to be "highly likely".
Most Western security services believe that Europe is facing a new spike in terrorism due to multiple contributing factors. These include the approach of the Christian holiday season, the fact that migrants continue to pour into the continent from the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the impending release of militant prisoners in Syria as prisons have become overcrowded. According to reports, Kurdish authorities have decided to release 15,000 inmates from the Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria after rising COVID-19 infection rates have worsened conditions in the already overcrowded facility. Experts are warning that any radicals who are tempted to flee the camp could join the majority of Syrian migrants and head to Europe.
AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.
