State Department evacuates almost all American diplomats from the U.S. consulate in Lahore after receiving 'specific' terror threat (Aug 09, 2013)The State Department has evacuated most of its diplomats from Lahore, Pakistan in response to terrorist threats against the U.S. consulate, according to senior officials. 'We have picked up what we regard as a threat worthy of taking this action,' a senior U.S. official told CNN. All diplomats were ordered to evacuate Thursday except for a few emergency personnel. The diplomats were reportedly moved to Islamabad. 
Pakistani security personnel stand guard outside the US consulate in Lahore on August 5, 2013 The threat in Lahore is reportedly unrelated to the ongoing terror threat against U.S. personnel that has prompted the closures of diplomatic posts throughout the Middle East and Africa. No U.S. posts in Pakistan had been closed due to the earlier threat. In a warning to U.S. citizens in Pakistan, the State Department said it 'ordered this drawdown due to specific threats concerning the U.S. Consulate in Lahore.' 'The presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens throughout Pakistan,' the warning said. U.S. officials in Islamabad are instructed to limit their travel to public markets and restaurants, especially if traveling with other Americans. 'Movements by U.S. government personnel assigned to the Consulates General are severely restricted, and consulate staff cannot drive personally-owned vehicles,' the warning states. 
Nina Fite, United States Consul General in Lahore, Pakistan, was likely among those evacuated on Thursday Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2387572/State-Department-evacuates-U-S-consulate-Pakistan-following-terror-threat.html#ixzz2bVlBpyX7 |