UK warns its citizens against terror threat

LONDON - The British government on Thursday reviewed and reissued its travel advice about Pakistan with the factual amendments to the Terrorism and Sectarian Violence Section.

According to the reviewed travel advice, there is a high threat from terrorism and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan. Since January 2007, there has been a series of attacks and suicide bombings targeted predominantly at the authorities but occasionally also at locations frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

Although attacks have been mostly against the military, there is reliable evidence that terrorists continue to target Western, including British, interests and individuals throughout Pakistan. We believe that there is a heightened threat to westerners in major cities.

On September 20, a major bomb attack at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad resulted in over 50 dead and 250 injured.

Other recent attacks include a suicide bomb in Peshawar which killed 36 and injured 100 people, a car bomb attack on the Danish Embassy in Islamabad in June 2008 an explosion at a restaurant in central Islamabad in March 2008 and a series of bomb blasts in Lahore in March 2008 which killed 26.

Although the Pakistani authorities have increased security throughout Pakistan due to the threat of further imminent attacks Visitors should avoid non-essential visits to major cities.

The British citizens should exercise particular caution when in the vicinity of key government installations and tourist sites.