US sees risk of missile attacks on planes in Kenya
WASHINGTON, Dec 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that it believed there was a risk "terrorists" might use shoulder-fired rockets to strike aircraft in Kenya, much like an unsuccessful attempt in Mombasa last month. The State Department issued two statements advising of the possible threat in Kenya and warning U.S. citizens throughout East Africa, including Djibouti, of the general risk of attacks from unspecified "terrorists." "The threat to aircraft by terrorists using shoulder-fired missiles continues in Kenya, to include Nairobi," the State Department said in the statements, which otherwise tracked previous warnings issued about the region in late November. Suicide bombers killed 10 Kenyans and three Israelis in a blast at an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa on Nov. 28 moments after assailants unsuccessfully fired missiles at an Israeli airliner taking off nearby. The two events were apparently synchronized attacks on the city, a key center for Kenya's tourism industry. As with the warnings it issued shortly after those attacks, the State Department told U.S. citizens to remain vigilant, particularly in public places like hotels and shopping malls, frequented by foreigners and it warned generally of "possible heightened risks to American citizens and interests in Kenya." "U.S. citizens should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets in public places, including tourist sites and other sites where Westerners are known to congregate," it said, echoing its earlier warnings.
