The US Embassy in Uganda has issued a terror alert, warning of possible attacks within East Africa, especially Uganda. According to the alert, US officials have also warned citizens to avoid crowds and be alert and report suspicious persons to authorities.
Titled, Possible attacks in areas frequented by Americans, US officials said: “There are rumors of impending attacks in areas frequented by experts within East Africa.”
“The embassy has not substantiated evidence of the threat or information on the timing, but nonetheless warns citizens to take the precautions outlined below: Be aware of your surroundings, avoid crowds, monitor media for updates, stay alert in locations frequented by tourists/Westerners,” the alert noted.
Yesterday, the Police said they are on standby and would further verify the report and issue guidelines to the public. Similar caution was given by the US mission in Tanzania. “There are rumors of impending attacks in the Masaki area of Dar-es-Salaam, specifically at hotels and restaurants frequented by tourists and at Slipway Shopping Centre on the Msasani Peninsula,” the embassy warned.
The US alert has been issued, a month after the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) issued another alert and photos of suspected ISIS terrorists, whom they said had attempted to enter Uganda. The listed people were an Afghan national, Rashidi Abdul Tawab and two other unidentified suspects.
“The under listed persons are suspected to be terrorists operating in the region and could enter Uganda to carry out attacks. Anyone with information about them should report to ISO, Police or any other security agency,” ISO officials said.
In February, the US embassy in Nairobi warned citizens of a possible attack in Kenya, saying that extremists could be targeting Westerners. The US embassy in Nairobi said targets could include Nairobi, Naivasha, Nanyuki, and coastal areas, all popular with foreign tourists.
There are also reports that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) has set up base in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), especially in Bovata, Beni town in North Kivu, where the terror group, recently claimed attacks that left eight Congolese soldiers and civilians killed.
The ISIS, security sources say, declared the province in DRC, an area of the caliphate and also planted a flag. It was the first time that ISIS was asserting responsibility for an attack in DRC, a move that has put neighboring countries on a special terror alert.
Within Africa, security sources say, ISIS has also established bases in Mozambique and is on a recruitment drive. ISIS is a terror group, which is an offspring of al-Qaeda in Iraq. It is headquartered in Raqqa, Syria
