US and UK embassies warn their citizens of possible terror threats

Beijing police tightened security on Thursday as foreign embassies said they had received information about possible terror threats against Westerners in the popular Sanlitun entertainment area.

The United States and United Kingdom embassies warned of the threats, while the French embassy passed the US warning on to its citizens.

Police in the capital issued a yellow security alert, but said this was aimed only at ensuring social stability.

A statement issued by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau said the alert had been issued to deal with an increasing number of public activities in shopping malls, entertainment venues and restaurants during the festive period.

Beijing police have four types of security alert - red, orange, yellow and green - to respond to different levels of threats, with red being the highest.

Every medium-sized and large shopping mall will be assigned a police officer, the bureau said. Police will also step up regular and armed patrols in crowded areas.

The Armed Police Force was assigned security duties in key commercial areas on Thursday.

There was an obvious police presence in Wangfujing, the busiest commercial street in central Beijing, on Christmas Eve, with many shoppers taking pictures. Armed police officers were on duty outside Wangfujing Church, also known as St Joseph's Church.

A team of officers from the Snow Leopard Commando Unit, a special operations unit under the Armed Police Force tasked with counterterrorism duties, stood guard at a shopping complex in Sanlitun. The area is home to foreign embassies and is popular among expatriates.

The increased security measures did not deter people from lining up to take pictures with Santa Claus.

Education authorities in at least two districts of the capital sent messages to parents, asking them not to take their children to Sanlitun on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and around New Year's.

There were markedly fewer people, especially foreigners, in Sanlitun on Thursday, although the numbers in Wangfujing were not noticeably down.

No other Chinese cities were reported to have issued security alerts on Thursday.

The US and UK embassies did not specify the type of threats, or the sources. An employee at the US embassy said the staff members were on vacation during the Christmas holiday.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hong Lei said he was aware of the warning from the embassies. Beijing police and the Ministry of Public Security refused to comment.

The manager of a restaurant in Sanlitun, who gave his name only as Charlie, said he had received e-mails from the embassies about the possible threats and had immediately informed his staff members.

"I told them to remain on high alert for suspicious people and for bags (left unattended). With a heavy police presence, I don't think anything will happen," the manager said.

He added that the situation had affected the restaurant's business, as it had received cancellations for Christmas Eve dinner just hours after the warnings were issued.

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