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8/1/13, "U.S. intelligence: Al Qaeda plot tied to embassy closings on Sunday," CBS News, Jake Miller
"An al Qaeda plot is linked to an announcement by the State Department
that it was closing several consulates and embassies around the world
on Sunday due to a security threat, CBS News has learned.
CBS
News correspondent David Martin reports that U.S. intelligence has
picked up signs of an al Qaeda plot against American diplomatic posts in
the Middle East and other Muslim countries. The intelligence does not
mention a specific location, which is why all embassies that would
normally be open on Sunday have been ordered to close. That includes
embassies and consulates in the Middle East, North Africa, and South
Asia, where Sunday is the start of the work week.
Martin
further reported that officials say this appears to be a real plot in
the making and not just the normal chatter among terrorists talking
about attacks they'd like to carry out. But these same officials add
they are missing key pieces of information.
As of 7:35 PM
ET Thursday, at least 14 embassies have announced that they will close
on Sunday in accordance with the State Department's guidance, including
the U.S. embassies in
Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan,
Kuwait,
Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
A statement on the website of the embassy in Kuwait explained,
"The Department of State has instructed certain U.S. Embassies and
Consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations on Sunday, August
4...Accordingly, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait will be closed on Sunday,
August 4."
In the meantime, the statement continued, "All U.S.
citizen services appointments and visa appointments have been cancelled
and have been rescheduled on an individual basis."
Earlier, Marie Harf, the deputy spokeswoman for the State Department,
told reporters that the step was taken as a "precautionary" measure.
She did not provide further specifics on the nature of the threat or
which embassies would be forced to shutter for the day.
"The
Department of State has instructed certain U.S. embassies and
consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations on Sunday, August
4th," she said, explaining that the decision was made "out of an
abundance of caution."
She said that it is "possible"
some facilities would remain closed for more than a day, depending on
the results of a security analysis.
A senior State
Department official told CBS News: "For those who asked about which
embassies and consulates we have instructed to suspend operations on
August 4th, the answer is that we have instructed all U.S. Embassies and Consulates
that would have normally been open on Sunday to suspend operations,
specifically on August 4th. It is possible we may have additional days
of closing as well."
The official added: "The Department, when
conditions warrant, takes steps like this to balance our continued
operations with security and safety."...
Map above from CBS News
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