Warning for Americans in Jordan
From Elise Labott (CNN Washington Bureau)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States warned its citizens in Jordan this week about a possible al Qaeda plot to kidnap American citizens in the country, the State Department said Friday.
The U.S. Embassy in Amman posted the warning on its Web site Thursday, citing "uncorroborated information indicating a member of the al Qaeda network was considering a plan to kidnap U.S. citizens this past summer."
The "warden message" on the Web site said there was "no further information available to determine the credibility of this threat or any indications of the timing."
Even so, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday the embassy felt obligated to alert U.S. citizens in case the threat was authentic.
"They felt it was necessary and appropriate to tell Americans residents in Jordan who might be subject to this about it, just in case it turned out to be real," Boucher said. "When you have a population that would be the presumed targets of this, you need to tell people."
The embassy said in the warning that it was working closely with the Jordanian government, police and security officials on the matter and "taking appropriate measures."
It also reminded citizens of a worldwide caution issued earlier this month that warns "American citizens may be targeted for kidnapping or assassination."
"Terrorist groups do not distinguish between official and civilian targets," the warning said.
