British embassy issues warning of Beijing attacks

In separate warnings issued, the UK, US, and French embassies have urged their respective citizens to take care while visiting Sanlitun, without elaborating further.

The warnings made mention of the upscale Beijing neighborhood of Sanlitun but were otherwise nonspecific. ‘U.S. citizens are urged to exercise heightened vigilance.

Western tourists may be targeted in Christmas Day attacks in a popular Beijing shopping district, British authorities have warned.

“The Danish Embassy in Beijing has received information on possible threats against Westerners in Sanlitun area in Beijing around December 25”.

On Thursday afternoon, Sanlitun was swarming with camouflage-clad guards toting large black rifles.

Beijing police released a statement that their alert for shopping malls and supermarkets was “to safeguard security and social order during the Christmas period”.

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 worldwide stores. In August, a lone attacker stabbed a French man and a Chinese woman there.

A similar warning has been given to British Government staff.

“There is a general threat from terrorism 1/8in China3/8, but the risk of attacks is higher in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region”, it said.