UN staff warned against high risk of terrorist attack in Sudan
Feb 4, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The United Nations warned of imminent threat against western interests in Sudan. A UN advisory requested all the UN staff in Sudan to remain vigilant and alert.
UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Sudan has issued last Wednesday 31 January an alert of imminent attack against western interest from an extremist group in Sudan.
“UNDSS has received new information about a credible threat that an extremist group based in Sudan is likely to target western interests. Although the extent of the nature of threat is not fully clear at this stage, given the focus of extremists on the UN presence in Sudan it is possible that the primary target of this threat is the UN.”
The U.S. embassy in Khartoum has warned Americans in Sudan of an imminent insurgency strike by an Islamist group. In a warden message on Thursday, the embassy said it was informed by the United Nations Mission in Sudan that an “extremist group based in the country is likely to target Western interests.”
The UN alert indicated that threats of this nature must always be taken seriously and staff are therefore requested to remain vigilant and alert.
“Given the focus of extremists on the UN presence in Sudan, it is possible that the primary target of this threat is the UN,” the US embassy n message said.
The Sudanese government does not confirm the threat cited in the warden message. But UN diplomats have warned of increasing threats by al-Qaeda and other Islamic fighters against the Western presence in the country.
(ST)