British, US embassies warn of threats against Westerners in Beijing

The message stated in that USA citizens have been being urged to “exercise heightened vigilance” & the US …

Security has been tightened around a Beijing bar and shopping area popular with tourists, as foreign embassies issued warnings that westerners should be on guard for possible threats against them.

There were no further details from French, Australian, US and United Kingdom officials. The Sanlitun district of Beijing, for which the warning was issued, is home to numerous bars and restaurants and is also where Apple opened its first store in China in 2008.

Beijing police also issued a “yellow alert for shopping malls and supermarkets to safeguard security and social order during the Christmas period”, according to the official Global Times newspaper.

British and United States authorities have issued warnings about “possible threats” to their citizens in the Chinese capital Beijing over Christmas.

A woman was stabbed to death in broad daylight by a sword-wielding man there in August. Police said at the time that they would increase inspections on people and vehicles entering Beijing.

Xinjiang has seen violent attacks in recent years, which the Chinese government has blamed on Islamist militants and separatists.

In a section of the website specifically about China, it says there is a “general threat from terrorism”, but adds that the risk of attacks is higher in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region.

China’s counter-terrorism police units have been deployed in key points in Beijing following threat of attacks on foreigners in the festive season. They also sent the notice via email.