As Laura Ingraham noted, al Qaeda might be on the run after all, but it looks like they’re running in our direction. Tonight the State Department ordered all non-emergency U.S. government personnel out of the U.S. consulate in Lahore, Pakistan, citing a specific and “more local” threat than the ones that prompted the closure of 19 embassies.
The State Department’s sudden “reduction of personnel” replaced a previous travel warning.
Threat reporting indicates terrorist groups continue to seek opportunities to attack locations where U.S. citizens and Westerners are known to congregate or visit. Terrorists and criminal groups regularly resort to kidnapping for ransom.
Protests against the United States are not uncommon and have the potential to turn violent. U.S. citizens in Pakistan are strongly advised to avoid all protests and large gatherings.
BREAKING: U.S. orders most officials out of Lahore, Pakistan
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 9, 2013
From @margbrennan: State Dept orders departure of non-emergency US Govt personnel from US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 9, 2013
Earlier in the day, State issued Travel Warning to Americans to defer nonessential travel within Pakistan due to threat.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 9, 2013
https://twitter.com/Shan1419/status/365655776817192960
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