US Warns of Possible Attack in Islamabad, Prohibits Officials From Visiting Popular Hotel
Last Updated: December 25, 2022, 21:28 IST
The directive from the US embassy comes two days after militants believed to have been on the verge of carrying out a suicide bombing in Islamabad’s government district blew themselves up as police pursued their car, killing one officer. (Reuters)
The US embassy in Pakistan capital issued the security alert, saying that it ‘is aware of information that unknown individuals are possibly plotting to attack Americans at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad sometime during the holidays’
The US embassy in Islamabad on Sunday prohibited its staff from visiting a popular hotel in the Pakistan capital, saying that there’s a possibility of an attack on Americans there. The embassy issued the security alert, saying that it “is aware of information that unknown individuals are possibly plotting to attack Americans at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad sometime during the holidays”. “Effective immediately, the Embassy in Islamabad is prohibiting all American staff from visiting Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel.”
The embassy also asked its personnel not to undertake non-essential, unofficial travel in Islamabad during the holiday season. “…as Islamabad has been placed on a Red Alert citing security concerns while banning all public gatherings, the embassy is urging all Mission personnel to refrain from non-essential, unofficial travel in Islamabad throughout the holiday season,” the alert stated.
The directive from the embassy comes two days after militants believed to have been on the verge of carrying out a suicide bombing in Islamabad’s government district blew themselves up as police pursued their car, killing one officer.
Pakistan’s interior ministry said the vehicle had been heading for a high-value target in the capital. The car exploded near police headquarters on a main road leading to a government sector where parliament and the offices of senior officials are located.
Islamabad was already on high alert due to threats of a high-profile attack, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had said. “Had the car reached its target, it would have caused heavy losses,” he told Geo News TV.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed the car bombing, saying it was revenge for the killing of one of their leaders. “We take responsibility for the suicide attack against the enemy of Islam,” said a statement from the militants known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of Sunni Islamist and sectarian groups.
(With agency inputs)
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