Germany has warned its nationals against heightened risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings by the dreaded Islamic State (IS) or other militant Islamist groups in over 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The German foreign ministry yesterday issued an "urgent regional security warning" for the nations where radical Islamist groups are active.
It referred to the recent threat by IS to attack the interests of those nations participating in the international coalition to fight the jihadists in Iraq and in Syria.
In view of this threat, "it cannot be ruled out that Western nationals in a foreign country could become the targets of terrorist attacks, kidnappings and criminal offences by IS sympathisers," the ministry said.
Increased risk of attacks and kidnappings existed in areas frequently visited by Western nationals.
The ministry urged the public to be very vigilant, to avoid large crowds and to follow the instructions of local security authorities.
The warning comes just days after IS called upon Muslims to kill nationals of those nations participating in the international coalition against the jihadists.
Countries listed as having increased risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings are Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Jordan, Cameroon, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier this week, the Abu Sayyaf militant Islamist group in the Philippines had threatened to kill two German hostages it has been holding since April unless Germany pays a ransom of USD 5.6 million and ends its support for the Kurdish forces fighting the IS in northern Iraq by October 10.
