Thursday, June 2, 2016

"[W]e are alerting U.S. citizens to the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centers and transportation"







"[W]e are alerting U.S. citizens to the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centers and transportation," reads the statement. "The large number of tourists visiting Europe in the summer months will present greater targets for terrorists planning attacks in public locations, especially at large events." The alert ends on August 31, 2016.

The recommendation comes months after the devastating terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels. France is still operating under a state of emergency following the tragedies of November 2015, but they will still play host to the Euro Cup this summer, a month-long series of soccer tournaments that rival the World Cup and Olympics in terms of attention. "Euro Cup stadiums, fan zones, and unaffiliated entertainment venues broadcasting the tournaments in France and across Europe represent potential targets for terrorists, as do other large-scale sporting events and public gathering places throughout Europe," the statement continued.

In addition to the Euro Cup, the State Department also cautioned Americans about the Catholic Church's World Youth Day in Poland, as well as the Tour de France, both held this July.

Of course, a travel alert doesn't mean you can't go, or even shouldn't go: It just asks Americans to take extra precautions and stay informed of local politics while traveling to Europe. Travel to Europe hasn't suffered very much since the terror attacks; in fact, the strong American dollar and cheap oil prices mean that this is an exceedingly cheap time to go. But with this latest warning coming on the heels of yet more frightening Zika news, it's starting to feel like a staycation is the best destination there is.



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