US warns of possible terror threat at Entebbe Airport

The US has been warned by Ugandan police of a “specific threat” of an attack on Entebbe International Airport, 35 km from the African country’s capital Kampala, on Thursday night.

The US embassy in Uganda stated that it was handed information by the Uganda Police Force describing a “specific threat to attack Entebbe International Airport by an unknown terrorist group today, July 3rd, between the hours of 2100-2300.”

Anybody with plans of passing through the airport should review their travel plans in accordance with the new information, the embassy said in the release published on its website.

The embassy went on to warn of “the continued threat of potential terrorist attacks in the country.” Among potential terrorist targets are “hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping malls, diplomatic missions, transportation hubs, religious institutions, government offices, or public transportation.”

Uganda has been no stranger to terror threats this year. In May, the US issued a warning announcing a specific threat to churches, saying terrorists were “preparing to strike places of worship in [the capital of] Kampala… including some that may be frequented by expatriates.”

While the source of the threats is still to be identified, in the past fingers have been pointed at Somali-based terror group, Al-Shabaab. Uganda and Kenya are key contributors of troops to aid the African Union Mission in Somalia; Islamists have carried out revenge attacks in both countries.

The conflict has spilled into neighboring Kenya as a result of that country’s contribution to the African Union forces operating in Somalia. At least 50 people were killed during a raid on a coastal Kenyan town in mid-June, which Al-Shabaab took responsibility for.

RT