U.S. warns of attacks in Saudi Arabia, Kenya
Official: 'We are in a heightened threat environment' worldwide
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Soldiers guard a bank plaza in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, following the latest terror warnings.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. and Australia issued warnings about the possibility of terror attacks in Nairobi, Kenya, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Some U.S. officials said there also is concern about a possible terror threat in Britain.
"We are in a heightened threat environment" worldwide, said one U.S. official following Tuesday's announcement.
The Kenya advisory was echoed on the Web site for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, warning Australians to avoid non-essential travel to the African nation and advising Australians living in Kenya, who are concerned about their safety, to consider leaving.
NAIROBI: The U.S. State Department said in a public announcement in Kenya that while its information "has not been corroborated," the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi had received "an anonymous warning detailing terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, specifically the Stanley Hotel and the Hilton Hotel. The timing of the threat is within the next several days."
Employees at both hotels said they had been made aware of the threats and had taken action to increase security.
The government has made no comment. Armed security officers were seen Tuesday evening around the Hilton, but none were evident at the Stanley.
In 1998, more than 200 Kenyans were killed in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. The attack was blamed on al Qaeda, making it the most deadly of the terrorist network's strikes on Western interests prior to the attacks of September 11, 2001.
RIYADH: The U.S. Embassy warned that intelligence information indicated a housing compound in the Saudi Arabian capital "has been under active surveillance by terrorist elements."
The complex is the Seder Village housing compound, and the embassy noted that other Western compounds within the country also may be targeted.
The embassy restricted its U.S. employees and dependents from visiting housing compounds in the Riyadh area between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for official business.
Suicide attacks struck Riyadh housing compounds in May and November.
On November 8, a car bomb exploded at a Riyadh housing compound killing 17 people, mostly Arabs. Saudi officials said they believe al Qaeda was behind the attack, mistakenly thinking the compound housed Americans.
In May, triple car bombings in Riyadh killed 23 people at three complexes housing Westerners. Twelve other bodies were identified as bombers.
LONDON: "There is reason to be concerned" that al Qaeda may attempt an attack in London, or against British interests, one U.S. official said.
British police Tuesday arrested 14 people in three separate anti-terrorism investigations, but disclosed no details to indicate whether the arrests might be connected to concerns of an imminent attack. (Full story)
CNN's David Ensor and Andrea Koppel contributed to this report.
