Washington // The US government issued an urgent warning on Thursday about a possible attack against its citizens in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.
The state department said the US embassy had “received reports of a potential, imminent threat against US citizens in areas of Jeddah frequented by westerners, such as markets, restaurants, and shopping malls, among others”.
The security message, published online and sent to US travellers registered with department, did not give further details on the reported threat, but reiterated existing guidance for visitors to Saudi Arabia.
“Remember to vary your routes and times in all instances when traveling in the Kingdom,” the notice said.
“All US citizens are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings, and take extra precautions when travelling throughout the country.”
Earlier this month there were three bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia including one in Jeddah, the kingdom’s second city and major Red Sea port, and which CIA director John Brennan said bore the hallmarks of ISIL.
Saudi Arabia is part of the US-led international coalition battling the extremist group in Iraq and Syria. Since March last year, the country has also led a coalition fighting Iran-backed rebels in Yemen.
In the past year, Saudi authorities have stepped up the arrests of extremists and last year announced that they had dismantled an ISIL-linked group, detaining hundreds of suspects, mainly Saudis.
Saudi Arabia’s top cleric, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, has declared ISIL to be an “enemy of Islam.”
* Agence France-Presse
