Alert goes out to travellers

PARIS – Japan and Sweden joined the United States and Britain in warning citizens about traveling in Europe because of concerns about a terror attack. Pakistani intelligence officials said five German militants were believed killed in an American missile strike close to the Afghan border.
 The attack hit a house in North Waziristan. That region has been named as the source of the European terror plot that has prompted American authorities to issue a travel advisory. One or more German citizens are reported to be linked to the plot.
 Two officials said the victims were believed to be German citizens in the region for terrorist training. A third said they were believed to be foreigners, but gave no details.
 The officials spoke anonymously because their agency does not permit operatives to be named in the media.
 The travel advisories from Tokyo and Stockholm came as European authorities sought to calibrate their messages on counterterrorism efforts, hoping to raise public awareness about the threat but without sowing panic.
 The warnings could plant the seed for possible damage to Europe’s lucrative tourism business at a time when the continent’s economy has been coping with recession – though many tourists took the warnings in stride.
 The United States State Department alert Sunday advised the hundreds of thousands of American citizens living or traveling in Europe to take more precautions about their personal security. The Japanese alert was similar. (AP)