WASHINGTON, June 1: The United States warned its citizens on Tuesday of possible summer terrorist attacks in Europe, saying targets could include the European soccer championship in France, although a State Department official said there was no specific threat information.
Concern about security in Europe has increased since the November 13 attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead as well as the March 22 attacks in which two suicide bombers struck Brussels airport and a third the city`s metro, killing 32.
"We are alerting US citizens to the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centres and transportation," the US State Department said in a travel alert that extends through August 31.
The department routinely issues such warnings for individual countries and, at times, for an entire continent even when it does not have specific threat information about particular targets.
The last US warning for Europe was issued on March 22 following the Brussels attacks and was due to expire in late June. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the new warning amounted to an early extension of the previous one. "We took the opportunity, because it`s the beginning of summer, to make our concerns known," he told a press briefing, noting several high-profile events in Europe in June and July.
Responding to the US alert, the head of Italy`s anti-terrorism police unit, Lamberto Giannini, said there were "no specific warnings or particular evidence." But he told Italian media the situation across Europe "requires maximum attention."
The British Foreign Office declined to comment but pointed to its own guidance advising of a "high threat" of terrorism in some European countries.    ?REUTERS