U.S. embassy in Yemen closes on Qaeda threat

ping.

From the official website:
http://yemen.usembassy.gov/embclosed.html

Thank you for the ping rdl6989.

I am remembering just how many innocent (and Muslim!) local workers at our embassies in Africa died at the hands of Al Qaida’s two bombings.

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=112084

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Yemen Suggested Security Practices
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
Middle East / N. Africa - Yemen
31 Dec 2009

U.S. Embassy Sanaa issued the following Warden Message on December 31:

The U.S. Embassy in Yemen encourages U.S. citizens to follow good security practices and maintain situational awareness. Following the attempted attack aboard Northwest Airlines flight 253, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) publicly claimed responsibility for the incident and stated that it was in response to American interference in Yemen. In the same statement, the group made threats against Westerners working in embassies and elsewhere, characterizing them as “unbelievers” and “crusaders.” The U.S. Embassy would like to take this opportunity to remind Americans of the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against American citizens and interests throughout the world and urge U.S. citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance.

The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens to exercise prudence and enhanced security awareness. It is always advisable to keep your security and situational awareness levels high.

Please follow these good security practices:

-Do not be time and place predictable. Vary your routes and times to and from work. Do not frequent the same shops with regularity;

-Know where you are going and have a plan of what to do in the event you encounter demonstrations or violence;

-Identify safe areas (for example police stations or hospitals) in your area and how to get to them quickly;

-Avoid crowds or large gatherings when traveling in public;

-Tell co-workers or neighbors where you’re going and when you intend to return;

-Minimize your profile while in public;

-Always carry a cell phone and make sure you have emergency numbers pre-programmed into your phone such as the U.S. Embassy in Yemen [967] 1 755 2000.

-Be prepared to postpone or cancel activities for personal safety concerns;

-Report all concerns and any demonstrations you may experience to the U.S. Embassy in Yemen

RELATED REPORTS
18 Sep 2009
WARDEN MESSAGE: YEMEN HEIGHTENED SECURITY ALERT

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://yemen.usembassy.gov/embclosed.html

PRESS RELEASES

Embassy Closed in Response to Security Threat
January 03, 2010

The U.S. Embassy in Sana’a is closed today, January 3, 2010, in response to ongoing threats by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to attack American interests in Yemen.

On December 31, the U.S. Embassy sent a warden message to Americans citizens in Yemen to remind them of the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against American citizens and interests throughout the world. The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance and to practice enhanced security awareness.

All warden messages are posted on the U.S. Embassy website: yemen.usembassy.gov

ON THE INTERNET:

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/aqap/index

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_936.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Sun Jan 03 2010 01:29:00 GMT-0800 (PST).

YEMEN

June 26, 2009

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the high security threat level in Yemen due to terrorist activities. The Department recommends that American citizens defer non-essential travel to Yemen. American citizens remaining in Yemen despite this warning should monitor the U.S. Embassy website and should make contingency emergency plans. This replaces the Travel Warning for Yemen issued April 24, 2009, to update information on attacks against foreigners in the Northern governorate of Saada.

The security threat level remains high due to terrorist activities in Yemen. On the morning of September 17, 2008, armed terrorists attacked the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen. A number of explosions occurred in the vicinity of the Embassy’s main gate. Several Yemeni security personnel and one Embassy security guard were killed, as were a few individuals waiting to gain entry to the Embassy, one of whom was a U.S. citizen.

U.S. Embassy employees have been advised to exercise caution when choosing restaurants, hotels or visiting tourist areas in Sanaa in order to avoid large gatherings of foreigners and expatriates. Only limited travel outside of the capital is authorized at this time.

U.S. citizens who travel to or remain in Yemen despite this warning should exercise caution and take prudent security measures, including maintaining a high level of vigilance, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all travel, and ensuring travel documents are current. American citizens in Yemen are advised to exercise particular caution at locations frequented by foreigners countrywide, including restaurants and hotels frequented by expatriates. From time to time, the Embassy may restrict official Americans from restaurants, hotels, or shopping areas. The Department of State strongly encourages American citizens to consult the most recent Warden Messages on the U.S. Embassy website to get up-to-date information on security conditions. Americans who believe they are being followed or threatened while driving in urban centers should proceed as quickly as possible to the nearest police station or major intersection and request assistance from the officers in the blue-and-white police cars stationed there.

The Department remains concerned about possible attacks by extremist individuals or groups against U.S. citizens, facilities, businesses, and perceived interests. On March 15, 2009, four South Korean tourists were killed in a suicide bomb attack in the city of Shibam in southern Hadramout province. On March 18, 2009, a South Korean motorcade was attacked by a suicide bomber near Sana’a International Airport. On January 17, 2008, suspected al-Qa’ida operatives ambushed a tourist convoy in the eastern Hadramout Governorate, killing two Belgians. On July 2, 2007, suspected al-Qa’ida operatives carried out a vehicle-borne explosive device attack on tourists at the Belquis Temple in Marib, which resulted in the deaths of eight Spanish tourists and two Yemenis. The targeting of tourist sites by al-Qa’ida may represent an escalation in terror tactics in Yemen. On February 3, 2006, 23 convicts, including known affiliates of al-Qa’ida, escaped from a high-security prison in Sanaa, some of whom remain at large. Two of the escapees were killed in vehicle-based suicide attacks on oil facilities near Mukalla and Marib on September 15, 2006. Those attacks were followed by the arrest the next day in Sanaa of four suspected al Qa’ida operatives, who had stockpiled explosives and weapons.

The Government of Yemen has been battling al Houthi rebels in and around the northern governorate of Saada intermittently since 2004. In June 2009, a group of foreigners was attacked in Saada, resulting in three confirmed deaths. There have been no claims of responsibility in this incident and the investigation is ongoing.

U.S. citizens traveling in Yemen should be aware that local authorities occasionally place restrictions on the travel of foreigners to parts of the country experiencing unrest. In addition, the U.S. Embassy itself often restricts travel of official personnel to the tribal areas north and east of Sanaa, such as the governorates of Amran, Al Jawf, Hajja, Marib, Saada, and Shabwa. Travelers should be in contact with the Embassy for up-to-date information on such restrictions.

Travel by boat through the Red Sea or near the Socotra Islands in the Gulf of Aden presents the risk of pirate attacks. Since the beginning of 2009, 40 vessels reportedly have been attacked and 23 vessels seized in the area. In some cases, crew members were held for ransom. Following the April 2009 hijacking of a U.S. cargo vessel and the subsequent rescue of the vessel’s captain, resulting in the deaths of three pirates, Somali pirates threatened to retaliate against American citizens transiting the region. The threat of piracy extends into the Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa as well. See our International Maritime Piracy Fact Sheet. If travel to any of these areas is unavoidable, travelers may reduce the risk to personal security if such travel is undertaken by air or with an armed escort provided by a local tour company.

U.S. citizens should register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa and enroll in the warden system (emergency alert network) to obtain updated information on travel and security in Yemen. This can be done online prior to arrival in Yemen at State Department’s registration web page.

The U.S. Embassy is located at Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, P.O. Box 22347. The telephone number of the Consular Section is (967) (1) 755-2000, extension 2153 or 2266. The fax number is (967) (1) 303-175. The after-hours emergency number is (967) (1) 755-2000 (press zero for extension) or (967) 733213509. From time to time the Embassy may temporarily close or suspend public services for security reasons. Emergency assistance to U.S. citizens during non-business hours (or when public access is restricted) is available through Embassy duty personnel.

Current information on travel and security in Yemen may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada or, from outside the United States and Canada, 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays.) U.S. citizens should consult the Country Specific Information for Yemen and the Worldwide Caution on the State Department’s Internet site. Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be viewed at U.S. Embassy Sanaa’s American citizens services web page.

ping

Previously...

Quote:

revolution.ansar1.net/?p=1620

”I’m Alive ” says Yemen Radical Anwaar Awlaqee, despite U.S. attack. January 1, 2010

Posted by tarbiya in : Lands, News, True Journalism, True Shuyookh, Yemen , trackback

#

Quote:

revolution.ansar1.net/?p=1619

English translation of the “Urgent statement by al-Qaa’idah in the Arabian Peninsula December 29, 2009

Posted by tarbiya in : Al-Fajr Media Center, Arabian Peninsula, Jihadi Media, Jihad, Lands , trackback

Previously...

forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/brown-calls-international-summit-yemen-32055/
“Brown calls international summit on Yemen”
Posted 1 day ago

But wait, I though world loved s now that we elected 0bama.

You are right...mooslims want to kill us because they love us. They want to save us from our being misguided. I love you...BOOM!

For additional “insider” information on the war on terror, much of which you will not have heard elsewhere, I invite all Freepers to visit and participate in The Terrorism and Intelligence Blog at http://terrorismandintelligence.blogspot.com/

Gunny, out

Thank you for the ping Cindy.

UK embassy in Yemen also closed as a result of “specific intelligence”.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/03/al-qaida-alert-embassies-in-yemen-close

Thanks for the ping rdl6989.

ON THE INTERNET:

http://ukinyemen.fco.gov.uk/en/

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-an-embassy/middle-east-and-north-africa/embassy-sanaa