State Dept. Issues Europe Travel Alert for Summer

[Zorro]

Source: U.S. News and World Report

The U.S. State Department is warning travelers about travel in all of Europe this summer.

"Recent, widely-reported incidents in France, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom demonstrate that the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS or Da'esh), al-Qa'ida, and their affiliates have the ability to plan and execute terrorist attacks in Europe," State warned in a travel alert issued Monday. "While local governments continue counterterrorism operations, the Department nevertheless remains concerned about the potential for future terrorist attacks."

The department warned specifically about the dangers in "hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, high-profile events, educational institutions, airports, and other soft targets," and urged U.S. citizens to "exercise additional vigilance in these and similar locations, in particular during the upcoming summer travel season."

The travel warning expires Sept. 1.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-05-02/state-department-issues-travel-alert-for-all-of-europe-citing-terrorism

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Ramping up the fear.

Trump and the other draft-dodging Republicans (LaPierre, Rush, Cheney) are determined to turn the USA into a nation of cowards.

[Plucketeer]

1. I'm astonished about this!

I didn't know there was anyone LEFT at the State Dept. to issue such warnings.

[Turbineguy]

2. And let's not forget

the terrible anguish of having ordinary Europeans coming up to you to express their sympathy that you have a dolt for a president!

[HoneyBadger]

3. Does the EU have any input?

I assume that this hurts their tourism.

[mwooldri]

4. This is news?!?

Sorry if I appear totally jaded about all of this, but there has been a "threat" from "terrorists" in Europe since ... what feels like forever. IRA in the UK, ETA in Spain...

Besides the other way around isn't exactly very flattering either...

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in the USA. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. You should monitor media reports and be vigilant at all times.

The main threat comes from individuals who may have been inspired by terrorist groups, including Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL) and al Qaeda, to carry out so-called ‘lone actor’ attacks targeting public events or places, as demonstrated by attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota over the weekend of 17-18 September 2016, Orlando on 12 June 2016 and San Bernardino on 4 December 2015, among others. Attacks could take place with little or no notice.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/terrorism

But it's not terrorism that UK citizens should be worried about...

Medical treatment is expensive and there are no special arrangements for British visitors. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

Some hospitals may ask non-US residents to pay a deposit or ‘good faith’ payment on admittance. You should direct any requests for funds to your travel insurance provider in the first instance; only pay the hospital if you’re advised to do so by your travel insurance company. Your level of medical care won’t be affected while your claim is being processed.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/health

Europeans should worry more about needing emergency healthcare in the USA than terrorism. Thankfully, Americans don't have that worry... though medical/travel insurance is still needed for travel overseas as the national health systems of Europe will eventually bill.

[kimbutgar]

5. Europe needs to issue travel alerts to the US

Everyday, you hear of some asshole shooting people at colleges, malls, pools etc. I would be apprehensive ever going to an open carry state. Everytime I go to Arizona to visit my in laws I am apprehensive when I see people walking around with their guns on their belts. Insane little people . I never make eye contact with them. And I get especially apprehensive going with my adult autistic son who can get overwhelmed at times and has had meltdowns. He got rigid once and I was trying to talk him down and a guy saw me and rushed over with his hand on his gun. I screamed loudly "my son is autistic I can take care of him"!

When I was In Europe in March I felt safer there and the only guns I saw were on the police and miltary.

[HoneyBadger]

6. Tourists do not go to those areas do they?

Instead I see large German families on the C train asking if it goes to 116th st. Uh yeah. Of course the cross street matters a great deal, but they do not know that. I assume that they were going to Columbia U, and they were eventually going to hike through Morningside Park at night, but who knows.