Baird urges caution for Canadians as U.S. issues international travel alert over al-Qaeda threat
Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/FilesForeign
Affairs Minister John Baird: “Obviously in the run-up between now and
Sunday, we’ll continuously review the situation and take any action that
we feel that is in the best interests of Canada.”
OTTAWA
— Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird encouraged Canadian travellers
and diplomats in North Africa and the Middle East to exercise added
caution Friday after the United States issued a major terrorism and
travel alert for the region.
“It’s not for me to discuss the nature of the elevated risk that causes them (the Americans) to take these decisions,” Baird said.
“Having said that, when a close friend and ally has made this determination, obviously at a bare minimum it puts us at elevated risk, and we’re encouraging a higher degree of caution.”
Baird said Canada has no plans — yet — to close its diplomatic missions on Sunday, a regular work day in the region, as the U.S. has done.
But Baird said his deputy minister and director general of intelligence are monitoring the situation carefully in consultation with the U.S.
“Obviously in the run-up between now and Sunday, we’ll continuously review the situation and take any action that we feel that is in the best interests of Canada.”
Baird was responding to the U.S. decision Friday to issue a global travel alert, citing an al-Qaeda threat.
The State Department ordered the closure 21 of embassies and consulates this weekend in the Muslim world.
“Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August,” the State Department said.
The U.S. embassy closures cover an area encompassing Mauritania in West Africa to as far east as Afghanistan.
The alert warned that al-Qaeda or its allies could target the U.S. government or private American interests. It cited public transportation systems and tourist sites, among other things.
Last year, the U.S. issued a major warning on the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. On that day, the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed when militants attacked their diplomatic in Benghazi, Libya.
Baird said that neither the United Kingdom nor Australia had followed the U.S. lead and closed its missions, but he said Canadians in the region should be mindful.
“Most fair minded Canadians, when they see what the United States are doing would want to realize things are at an elevated risk and want to ensure a higher degree of caution.”
“U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when travelling,” the department said. It recommended American travelling overseas register with consular authorities on a travel registration website. The alert expires on Aug. 31.
Rep. Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Friday the embassy threat was linked to al-Qaeda and focused on the Middle East and Central Asia.
“We’ve had a series of threats,” Royce told reporters. “In this instance, we can take a step to better protect our personnel and, out of an abundance of caution, we should.” He declined to say if the National Security Agency’s much-debated surveillance program helped reveal the threat.
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence panel, also supported the department’s decision to go public with its concerns.
“The most important thing we have to do is protect American lives,” he said, describing the threat as “not the regular chit chat” picked up from would-be militants on the Internet or elsewhere.
- The Canadian Press, with files from Bradley Klapper, The Associated Press
“It’s not for me to discuss the nature of the elevated risk that causes them (the Americans) to take these decisions,” Baird said.
“Having said that, when a close friend and ally has made this determination, obviously at a bare minimum it puts us at elevated risk, and we’re encouraging a higher degree of caution.”
Baird said Canada has no plans — yet — to close its diplomatic missions on Sunday, a regular work day in the region, as the U.S. has done.
But Baird said his deputy minister and director general of intelligence are monitoring the situation carefully in consultation with the U.S.
“Obviously in the run-up between now and Sunday, we’ll continuously review the situation and take any action that we feel that is in the best interests of Canada.”
Baird was responding to the U.S. decision Friday to issue a global travel alert, citing an al-Qaeda threat.
The State Department ordered the closure 21 of embassies and consulates this weekend in the Muslim world.
‘When a close friend and ally has made this determination, obviously at a bare minimum it puts us at elevated risk’It warned U.S. citizens of the potential for terrorism particularly in the region, with a possible attack occurring or coming from the Arabian Peninsula.
“Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August,” the State Department said.
The U.S. embassy closures cover an area encompassing Mauritania in West Africa to as far east as Afghanistan.
The alert warned that al-Qaeda or its allies could target the U.S. government or private American interests. It cited public transportation systems and tourist sites, among other things.
Last year, the U.S. issued a major warning on the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. On that day, the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed when militants attacked their diplomatic in Benghazi, Libya.
Baird said that neither the United Kingdom nor Australia had followed the U.S. lead and closed its missions, but he said Canadians in the region should be mindful.
“Most fair minded Canadians, when they see what the United States are doing would want to realize things are at an elevated risk and want to ensure a higher degree of caution.”
‘Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond’Friday’s alert warned that al-Qaeda or its allies may target U.S. government or private American interests. It cited dangers involved with public transportation systems and other prime sites for tourists, noting that previous terrorist attacks have centred on subway and rail networks as well as airplanes and boats.
“U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when travelling,” the department said. It recommended American travelling overseas register with consular authorities on a travel registration website. The alert expires on Aug. 31.
Rep. Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Friday the embassy threat was linked to al-Qaeda and focused on the Middle East and Central Asia.
“We’ve had a series of threats,” Royce told reporters. “In this instance, we can take a step to better protect our personnel and, out of an abundance of caution, we should.” He declined to say if the National Security Agency’s much-debated surveillance program helped reveal the threat.
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence panel, also supported the department’s decision to go public with its concerns.
“The most important thing we have to do is protect American lives,” he said, describing the threat as “not the regular chit chat” picked up from would-be militants on the Internet or elsewhere.
- The Canadian Press, with files from Bradley Klapper, The Associated Press
Labels: Defence, Government of Canada, Islamism, Middle East, North Africa, Security, Terrorism, United States
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