US embassy in China issues terror warning for Western citizens
The US embassy in China has warned Western citizens in Beijing of a possible terrorist attack during the Christmas holiday.
“The US Embassy has received information of possible threats against Westerners in the Sanlitun area of Beijing, on or around Christmas Day,” the embassy said in a statement on Thursday.
The embassy has urged American nationals and government personnel in the area to exercise “heightened vigilance.”
The British and French embassies in the capital city have also issued similar warnings, urging their citizens to keep away from Sanlitun. The Australian embassy soon followed suit.
The nature of the attacks was not clear in the statement, although reports are indicative of increased police presence in the district, which is known for its nightlife venues and international stores.
The Public Security Bureau said the boost in security measures was in reaction to increased traffic at shopping centers during Christmas, and had nothing to do with the embassy warnings.
The neighborhood is home to a number of foreign embassies as well as a popular open-plan mall that offers products from international brands and some of Beijing's best Western dining.
Yang Shu, a counter-terror expert at Lanzhou University in northwest China, told the Los Angeles Times that the high profile nature of the threat and its focus on Western nationals may be a first for Beijing.
“If you look at previous terrorist threats in the area dating back to the '90s, except for one incident in central Asia ... no other attacks in China and central Asia have targeted Westerners,” he noted.
In August, a sword-wielding man killed a woman and injured a French man in broad daylight there. Beijing police said the two victims were hit "without cause or reason.
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