December 6, 2017

[ ... Excerpt ... ]

U.S. government facilities worldwide remain in a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Terrorist groups including ISIS, al-Qa’ida, their associates, and those inspired by such organizations, are intent on attacking U.S. citizens wherever they are.

Extremists may use conventional or non-conventional weapons to target U.S. government and private interests. Terrorists are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack to more effectively target crowds, including the use of edged weapons, pistols, and vehicles as weapons. Extremists increasingly aim to assault “soft” targets, such as:

• high-profile public events (sporting contests, political rallies, demonstrations, holiday events, celebratory gatherings, etc.)
  
  
• hotels, clubs, and restaurants
  
  
• places of worship
  
  
• schools
  
  
• parks
  
  
• shopping malls and markets
  
  
• tourism infrastructure
  
  
• public transportation systems
  
  
• airports
  

In multiple regions, terrorists, guerrilla groups, and criminals seek to kidnap U.S. citizens to finance their operations or for political purposes. The Department also remains concerned that terrorists could again seek to down aircraft using concealed explosives or hijack commercial flights

Read the full Worldwide Caution here:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/
traveladvisories/worldwide-caution.html