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U.S. Embassy in Uganda Warns of ‘Specific Threat’ to Airport U.S. Embassy in Uganda Warns of ‘Specific Threat’ to Airport
(about 1 hour later)
The United States Embassy in Uganda said it had been warned of a “specific threat” of attack to the country’s main airport on Thursday and that travelers therefore “may want to review their plans.”. A day after the announcement of heightened security measures on United States-bound flights, the American Embassy in Uganda said it had been warned of a “specific threat” of attack to the country’s main airport on Thursday and that travelers therefore “may want to review their plans.”.
The warning was one of several recent alarms in restive East Africa, where governments have sought to counter threats, particularly those by Al Shabab militant movement based in Somalia. The warning was one of several recent alarms in restive East Africa, where governments have sought to counter threats, particularly those by the Al Shabab militant movement based in Somalia.
The embassy did not specify what the threat entailed, but said it had “received information from the Uganda Police Force that, according to intelligence sources, “there is a specific threat to Entebbe International Airport,” which serves the capital, Kampala. It was not clear if the Ugandan concerns were linked to the plans, made known by officials in Washington on Wednesday, for tightened passenger screening on many flights to the United States from Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The measures followed intelligence reports of an increased threat from Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen.
The embassy did not specify what the threat entailed, but said it had received information from the Uganda Police Force that, according to intelligence sources, “there is a specific threat to Entebbe International Airport,” which serves the capital, Kampala, 25 miles away.
The warning, in a statement on the embassy’s website, said the attack could take place between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Thursday.The warning, in a statement on the embassy’s website, said the attack could take place between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Thursday.
“U.S. Embassy Kampala wishes to remind U.S. citizens of the continued threat of potential terrorist attacks in the country,” the statement said. “The targets for these attacks could include hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping malls, diplomatic missions, transportation hubs, religious institutions, government offices, or public transportation.”“U.S. Embassy Kampala wishes to remind U.S. citizens of the continued threat of potential terrorist attacks in the country,” the statement said. “The targets for these attacks could include hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping malls, diplomatic missions, transportation hubs, religious institutions, government offices, or public transportation.”
The embassy’s warning followed a separate alert on Wednesday by Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority, Reuters reported.The embassy’s warning followed a separate alert on Wednesday by Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority, Reuters reported.
The alert also coincided with alarms about flights from Europe and the Middle East to the United States because of concerns that militants may have developed explosives undetectable by conventional airport security devices.
Uganda has troops in Somalia fighting Al Shabab as part of an African Union force and has been on alert in case that involvement draws reprisals. In 2010, Al Shabab claimed responsibility for attacks on bars in Uganda where people had gathered to watch World Cup soccer games. Scores were killed.Uganda has troops in Somalia fighting Al Shabab as part of an African Union force and has been on alert in case that involvement draws reprisals. In 2010, Al Shabab claimed responsibility for attacks on bars in Uganda where people had gathered to watch World Cup soccer games. Scores were killed.
Elsewhere in the region, Kenya has blamed the Somali-based group for attacks including last year’s bloody assault on the Westgate mall in Nairobi. Elsewhere in the region, Kenya has blamed the Somalia-based group for attacks including last year’s bloody assault on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi that killed at least 67 people.
According to Agence France-Presse, a Ugandan Army spokesman, Paddy Ankunda, said on Thursday that troops had been deployed at the airport and in the capital.According to Agence France-Presse, a Ugandan Army spokesman, Paddy Ankunda, said on Thursday that troops had been deployed at the airport and in the capital.
“People must be vigilant in the face of this threat, report any suspicious individuals seen in their areas,” he said, calling on people to “stay calm and alert.” “People must be vigilant in the face of this threat, report any suspicious individuals seen in their areas,” he was quoted as saying, calling on citizens to “stay calm and alert.” News photographs from Kampala showed a line of security personnel in camouflage fatigues carrying assault rifles as they patrolled the city.
In Washington, officials said on Wednesday that heightened security arrangements for planes flying to the United States would be introduced at about 15 foreign airports but not in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security told and airlines and overseas governments about the measures, but has not disclosed details publicly.
Secretary Jeh Johnson of the Department of Homeland Security said in a written statement that the measures would be “both seen and unseen” and would evolve as situations warrant.
The move was interpreted as the latest sign that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, an extremist group based in Yemen, was plotting against a United States-bound airliner. Since 2009 three of its plots using bombs carried by operatives or hidden in cargo have been foiled.