Thursday, 20 October 2011
In an update to the “terrorism section” of its travel advice, the British embassy advised British organizations and businesses to review their security measures. (File photo)
The British embassy in Kuwait has temporarily suspended its operations due to an increased security threat, the embassy said in a statement.
“Whilst the threat is targeted against the Embassy itself, we cannot rule out threats against other British interests in Kuwait,” the statement dated Wednesday, October 19, and posted on the embassy website, said.
“We therefore advise that British organizations and businesses in Kuwait to review the security procedures they have in place,” it added.
In an update to the “terrorism section” of its travel advice, the embassy also advised British organizations and businesses to review their security measures, although it said that the threat was targeted at the mission itself.
“Whilst the threat is targeted against the Embassy itself, we cannot rule out threats against other British interests in Kuwait,” the statement dated Wednesday, October 19, and posted on the embassy website, said.
“We therefore advise that British organizations and businesses in Kuwait to review the security procedures they have in place,” it added.
In an update to the “terrorism section” of its travel advice, the embassy also advised British organizations and businesses to review their security measures, although it said that the threat was targeted at the mission itself.
The embassy was closed Thursday, a working day in Kuwait, according to a recorded phone message.
A spokeswoman of the British Foreign Office confirmed the suspension of the embassy but did not provide more details.
“We are aware of an increased threat toward the British embassy in Kuwait. We have therefore taken the precaution of temporarily suspending embassy services,” she said.
The statement issued by the embassy said: “There is a general threat from terrorism in Kuwait. Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region.”
“These include references to attacks on Western including European interests... residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests,” it added.
It also advised British nationals to exercise caution before sailing in Kuwaiti waters following what it called maritime restrictions issued by Kuwait last month. There were no further details.
About 20,000 British nationals live and work in Kuwait.
The oil-rich Gulf state has not seen violence since January 2005, when security forces fought gun battles with a group of Islamists believed to be linked to al-Qaeda.
But in one of the latest terrorism-related incidents in Kuwait dateing back to August 2009, Kuwaiti authorities reported that they had arrested six individuals accused of planning attacks on U.S. troops stationed at Camp Arifjan. The six men allegedly belong to a terrorist group with ties to Qaeda.
In 2010, Kuwait broke up an Iranian terrorist cell of about 15 people. The cell members who hailed mostly from Arab neighboring countries, had some Kuwaitis, including a few who had served in the security forces.
A spokeswoman of the British Foreign Office confirmed the suspension of the embassy but did not provide more details.
“We are aware of an increased threat toward the British embassy in Kuwait. We have therefore taken the precaution of temporarily suspending embassy services,” she said.
The statement issued by the embassy said: “There is a general threat from terrorism in Kuwait. Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region.”
“These include references to attacks on Western including European interests... residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests,” it added.
It also advised British nationals to exercise caution before sailing in Kuwaiti waters following what it called maritime restrictions issued by Kuwait last month. There were no further details.
About 20,000 British nationals live and work in Kuwait.
The oil-rich Gulf state has not seen violence since January 2005, when security forces fought gun battles with a group of Islamists believed to be linked to al-Qaeda.
But in one of the latest terrorism-related incidents in Kuwait dateing back to August 2009, Kuwaiti authorities reported that they had arrested six individuals accused of planning attacks on U.S. troops stationed at Camp Arifjan. The six men allegedly belong to a terrorist group with ties to Qaeda.
In 2010, Kuwait broke up an Iranian terrorist cell of about 15 people. The cell members who hailed mostly from Arab neighboring countries, had some Kuwaitis, including a few who had served in the security forces.
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