Americans warn of terror attack in Bahrain
The United States is urging its citizens to consider leaving the tiny Gulf state of Bahrain, citing intelligence that terrorists are planning to attack US and western interests.
The US Navy’s 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain, which has approximately 4,000 American residents, including military personnel.
“The Department of State warns US citizens to defer travel to Bahrain. American citizens currently in Bahrain are urged to consider departing,” said the travel warning.
“The Department has received information that extremists are planning attacks against US and other western interests in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
The warning referred to recent attacks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which has suffered a series of suicide bombings, kidnappings and gunbattles with security forces during the past 14 months.
Many attacks targeted foreign workers in an attempt to undermine the Saudi economy.
Officials have blamed groups allied to al-Qaida, the terror group led by Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.
A US Embassy spokeswoman in Bahrain said the embassy had relayed the warning to Americans living in Bahrain. She declined further comment.
