BRITISH tourists and expats living in South
Africa have been warned about the "high threat" of an attack on
shopping centres in the country -particularly during Ramadan.
The statement from the UK Government said areas in
Johannesburg and Cape Town - both popular with foreigners - were being
targeted.
Security officials believe there is an increased risk
of a terror attack in part because of the upcoming Muslim holy month of
Ramadan.
Updated travel advice from the Foreign Office said:
"There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate,
including in places visited by foreigners such as shopping areas in
Johannesburg and Cape Town."
On Saturday, the US embassy revealed it had received
information that terrorist groups were planning to carry out attacks against
places where foreigners congregate in shopping areas in South Africa.
A statement on its website read: "This
information comes against the backdrop of the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant's (ISIS) public call for its adherents to carry out terrorist attacks
globally during the upcoming month of Ramadan."
It singled out up-market shopping areas in the
commercial hub of Johannesburg and Cape Town, widely regarded as South Africa's
tourism capital, as the main targets.
South African security agencies have insisted they are
capable of countering any attack.
A government official said: "The state security
agency and other security agencies in this country are very much capable of
keeping South Africa safe.
"The security of this country is as good as it
always has been."
Last September, the US also warned its citizens of a
possible attack by "extremists" in South Africa, a stable democracy
which has avoided the Islamist militancy infecting parts of North and
sub-Saharan Africa.
The embassy and consulates in Johannesburg, Durban and
Cape Town closed for several days in 2009 after what US officials described as
a "specific" threat to government representatives in South Africa.
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