US issues Zanzibar terror warning

BBC News ^ | Saturday, 11 January, 2003, 03:28 GMT | BBC News

[colette_g]

US issues Zanzibar terror warning

The United States has issued a warning about a possible attack against visitors to the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar.

The State Department in Washington said it had received information that a terrorist group may be planning an attack on an unspecified location frequented by Westerners.

It said the targets might include restaurants, night clubs or hotels in Zanzibar.

"American citizens visiting Zanzibar or other nearby coastal locations in Tanzania are cautioned to take appropriate measures and carefully evaluate their security posture," the statement said.

The US authorities issued a similar warning on 18 December last year about possible attacks in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam.

Sensitivity

In the past, there have been several attacks against American and western interests in East Africa - including the bombing of the United States embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998.

Correspondents say the US has been particularly sensitive about threats directed against its interests in East Africa since the bombings.

These concerns were heightened when on 6 December 13 people were killed in a bomb attack on an Israeli-owned hotel near the Kenyan coastal resort of Mombasa.

[happygrl]

Zanzibar was settled by Arabs.

Lot's of "friendlies" to the Islamic cause.

[Imal]

Hey, it's Farrokh Bulsara's native soil, so you know it must be a pretty rough place!

Farrokh Bulsara
1946-1991

One of the best Male Vocalists of the Twentieth Century
Beloved of Millions and Sorely Missed

aka Freddie Mercury

[colette_g]

One of the best Male Vocalists of the Twentieth Century Beloved of Millions and Sorely Missed

Can't argue with that!

[SamAdams76]

Zanzibar is actually a place? I just thought it was a Billy Joel song.

[not a kook]

Beautiful beaches - off the coast of Tanzania. It had long been settled by Arabs, so there is a large Arab population there and in Tanzania - the Tanzanian Arabs are merchants and traders, and aren't particularly devout. It is real easy, though, for bad guys to come in from the hardline places, do bad stuff to westerners and Israelis, and then be impossible to ID or isolate because they look like all the zillions of other Arabs.

[chance33_98]

Put a smile on your face, donate to FR today!

[snippy_about_it]

Zanzibar live web cam

Zanzibar History

[angcat]

http://www.islamtz.org/

I had to go look at pictures of this place because I would never even go near Africa. The Coast is beautiful but you can keep it I did not know how to post a link but I found the above one interesting.

[GirlShortstop]

 
The United States has issued a warning about a possible attack against visitors to the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar.

scratching head and wondering...   If the official website is titled such as this, I'd say it's most likely *not* a good spot for Western or Israeli visitors.   Wouldn't you?

Islam Tanzania

[PokeyJoe]

Under normal circumstances, I would make a joke about Mr. Mercury.

Some people say that he sucked as a business manager, even if he was at the head of his class as a male vocalist.

[Bill Davis FR]

bump the muslims areas of the african east coast...

[Bogie]

Yes but, not exactly the vacation capital of the world.

[Bogie]

Didn't they used to deal slaves out of there too?

[robertpaulsen]

My wife and I were there during Ramadan in 1999. Thought I was in Saudi Arabia (though I've never been there).

Large Arab population, many mosques, and very devout (I was hissed at for drinking water in public during the day, my wife had to be careful with what she wore). But, I never felt threatened. Actually, most of the people were helpful and friendly.

[Imal]

Some people say that he sucked as a business manager, even if he was at the head of his class as a male vocalist.

Well, I certainly wouldn't have gone to him for my taxes!

But as a musician, songwriter, and particularly as a singer, very few will ever approach the greatness of the man.

On November 24, 1991, the world was robbed.

[concerned about politics]

I don't understand why any Americans would go overseas. I'd boycott. Let them feel our non-presence, and the loss of tourist funds.
I don't understand why we bother to support any nation known to have muslim terrorists. Stop the cash flow, and the nations will decide the terrorists are not welcome there. It hurts their economy.