Westerners In Beijing Warned Of Potential Terror Threats

The French Embassy, Britain’s Foreign Office and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs issued similar warnings.

This story was first published on CNN.com, “British, U.S. embassies warn of threats against Westerners in Beijing”.

Beijing police also announced Thursday that they had issued a yellow security alert, the lowest of their three levels, to ensure safety during the Christmas period.

“‘The U.S. Embassy has received information of possible threats against Westerners in the Sanlitun area of Beijing, on or around Christmas Day, ‘ the embassy said in an email to American citizens living in Beijing”.

The embassies sent out warnings to their citizens and staff, urging extra vigilance if they are in the Sanlitun district.

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 global stores.

There were some Chinese paramilitary police officers on guard with rifles and barricades in place on the streets leading to bars and embassies in Sanlitun and other parts of Beijing.

The embassy has urged American nationals and government personnel in the area to exercise “heightened vigilance”.

The government blamed that incident on Islamist militants from China’s unruly far western region of Xinjiang, where hundreds have died in unrest in recent years.

In August, a lone attacker fatally stabbed a Chinese woman there and injured a French man in the stabbing as well.