US issues terror warning to India

NEW DELHI: A day after a terrorist plan to bomb planes was foiled in the UK, the US on Friday warned of a possible al-Qaeda attack in New Delhi and Mumbai between August 11 and 16.

The US embassy today issued a travel advisory to its citizens in the country and warned of a series of planned bomb attacks by foreign terrorists with possible Al-Qaeda links in and around New Delhi and Mumbai.

The embassy issued the message after getting specific information that the two cities could be the target of a terror attack. “This is something we are doing only in India,” said the US embassy spokesperson.

“It’s a warden message for American citizens, We have this information and are sharing it with American citizens. It’s a precaution,” the official said. The advisory, which is called a ‘warden message’, was sent by email to all the US citizens registered with the embassy.

“Likely targets include major airports, key central Indian government offices, and major gathering places such as hotels and markets,” the US embassy said in the advisory, asking its citizens to maintain a “low profile”.
The US advisory comes in the backdrop of heightened security in the capital and around important installations in the run up to Independence Day.

Meanwhile, the US embassy has said that it is sharing information with the Indian government on terror attacks. “We do share information....with our host country. It’s the right thing to do,” the US official said.

Minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma said that no formal communication had come from the US, but added that there is a channel of communication between the security agencies of the two countries. “This is an advisory they have made public. The advisory was brought to our attention. Anyway, security agencies have been on high alert during the run up to Independence day,” Mr Sharma said.

In view of these developments, India now plans to push for greater cooperation between countries to combat terrorism. There is a formal proposal that India has been pushing for, which is pending with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), called the Comprehensive International Convention on Terrorism seeking greater cooperation from countries on terror links and to check the flow of funds.

Mr Sharma said this latest development underscored the need for such a convention. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also spoken to heads of states on this issue at the last UNGA meeting. Though no direct linkages are being drawn between the foiled UK terror attacks and the US embassy warning, the fact remains that the warning was issued just a day after a foiled plot to blow up aircraft leaving Heathrow airport in London.

Under the US warden system, the embassy issues an email message to all American citizens registered with the embassy in a foreign country in case there is information of a possible terrorist threat or even a natural calamity.

The last warden message on terror was in October last year, warning of possible terror attacks on US establishments in four Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.