The state department announced that 19 embassies and consulates will be closed through Saturday due to a threat of a terrorist attack. Many of the embassies were already planning on being closed for part of the week in observance of the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, however intelligence suggests this threat is very serious.
Politicians from both parties have expressed their concern regarding this threat and on Sunday many of them appeared on television shows to shed further light on the situation. Senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Maryland) reported that an attack is being planned by an al-Qaeda affiliate on the Arab Peninsula, which is considered to be one of the most dangerous groups within the terrorist organization. Senator Lindsey Graham (R- South Carolina) supports the Obama administration’s decision to temporarily close down the embassies stating the president has learned from what happened in Benghazi. Additionally, the intelligence regarding the attack was recovered by a controversial NSA surveillance program that was recently leaked by Edward Snowden.
[Reuters]
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Featured image courtesy of [Orlygur Hnefill via Flickr]