American tourists at the Vatican enjoy their visit despite a warning from the U.S. about possible terror attacks in Europe this summer.
”It seems like Italy is prepared because we see guards all over the place. I feel very safe over here.”
”It doesn’t hurt to be protected and to be safe and to be thinking about the future. Always protect yourself against the worst case scenario. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”
The U.S. says there is no specific threat information, but that possible targets could include the European soccer championships in France.
“I embrace the security. I don’t mind it, because that means that the country is on their toes and attentive to what’s going on. Things are in their hands, and we can go on as tourists and enjoy the city without any worries.”
France has extended its state of emergency imposed after the Islamic State Paris attacks.
Tourists look at the remaining parts of the Berlin Wall placed in front of the Ritz Carlton Hotel (C), in Berlin June 14, 2013. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
The United States warned its citizens on Tuesday of possible summer terrorist attacks in Europe, saying targets could include the European soccer championship in France, although a State Department official said there was no specific threat information.
Concern about security in Europe has increased since the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead as well as the March 22 attacks in which two suicide bombers struck Brussels airport and a third the city’s metro, killing 32.
“We are alerting U.S. citizens to the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centers and transportation,” the U.S. State Department said in a travel alert that extends through Aug. 31.
The department routinely issues such warnings for individual countries and, at times, for an entire continent even when it does not have specific threat information about particular targets.
The last U.S. warning for Europe was issued on March 22 following the Brussels attacks and was due to expire in late June. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the new warningamounted to an early extension of the previous one.
“We took the opportunity, because it’s the beginning of summer, to make our concerns known,” he told a press briefing, noting several high-profile events in Europe in June and July.
“I’m not aware of any specific, credible, terrorist event around these events or in any particular place in Europe. This was issued … based on an accumulation of information,” Kirby said.
Responding to the U.S. alert, the head of Italy’s anti-terrorism police unit, Lamberto Giannini, said there were “no specific warnings or particular evidence.” But he told Italian media the situation across Europe “requires maximum attention.”
The British Foreign Office declined to comment but pointed to its own guidance advising of a “high threat” of terrorism in some European countries.
The State Department alert noted France will host the June 10-July 10 UEFA Euro 2106 soccer championship and had extended its state of emergency, imposed after the Nov. 13 Paris attacks, through July 26 to cover the July 2-24 Tour de France race.
“Euro Cup stadiums, fan zones, and unaffiliated entertainment venues broadcasting the tournaments in France and across Europe represent potential targets for terrorists, as do other large-scale sporting events and public gathering places throughout Europe,” the department said.
It also said the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day event was expected to draw up to 2.5 million visitors to Krakow, Poland, from July 26 to 31.
(Reporting by Arshad Mohammed in Washington, Kate Holton in London and Isla Binnie in Rome; Editing by James Dalgleish)
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