The United States Department of State Monday alerted U.S. citizens travelling and residing abroad ‘to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan’. ‘Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations,’ the State Department said in a release posted on its website. ‘U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times,’ the Travel Alert said.
The alert was issued a few hours after Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden was killed in a US operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, Sunday night.
It said U.S. government facilities worldwide ‘remain at a heightened state of alert’, adding: ‘These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture.’