Jihadists in Germany at heart of Europe terror scare; Japan joins U.S., U.K., issues travel warning
By Michael Sheridan
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Monday, October 4th 2010, 9:12 AM
A group of German jihadists have reportedly taken center stage in the terror scare that has swept through Europe, sparking several nations to issue alerts to its citizens abroad.
Japan joined the United States and Britain on Monday, warning travelers to be wary of a “possible terrorist attack” as they vacationed in the west.
The fears originated from a plan by a group in Hamburg, according to CNN.
A member of the cabal, Ahmed Sidiqi, who was arrested in Afghanistan in July and taken to the U.S.’s Bagram Airfield, reportedly offered up details about the alleged plot. A German national of Afghan descent, Sidiqi allegedly joined a jihadist group in 2009 along with ten others, German intelligence officials told CNN.
The potentially deadly scheme he reportedly detailed, which would have targeted cities in France and Germany, was alarming enough to spark the rare blanketed travel alert.
Security officials have said terrorists may plot to carry out a coordinated attack similar to the one in Mumbai in 2008, utilizing guns and grenades at several locations loaded with tourists.
“Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target both official and private interests,” the State Department said in its travel advisory on Sunday.
“U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure,” the warning said. “Terrorists have targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and maritime services. U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.”
Britain has warned its own citizens of a “high threat of terrorism” in France and Germany, while Japan warned its travelers to exercise full caution at possible attack targets, such as government and police facilities, public transport systems and tourist spots.
According to Fox News, a list of possible targets includes the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Berlin‘s Brandenburg Gate, the city’s central railway station, as well as the Alexanderplatz TV tower.
Fox News described the source of this information as “a German-Pakistani national interrogated at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.”
Although officials in New York vowed to remain on alert due to the warnings for Europe, the FBI and Homeland Security Department say they have no indication terrorists are targeting the U.S. or its citizens.







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