ON October 3 the US State Department issued a terror alert covering all of Europe that current information suggests al-Qaida and affiliated organisations continue to plan terrorist attacks. It was presumably directed principally to American citizens planning a visit to Europe who were advised to take particular care on public transport or at tourist sites. However, it was also widely reported in Europe and no doubt caused some anxiety here among those planning to travel to places where a terrorist attack might be expected.
The warning was so general in character that it came under criticism from the media and was not supported by any similar statement from official European sources. Yesterday in London an American official from the State Department confirmed that although the warning is still in force it was based only on the accumulation of a significant body of information which was striking and internally consistent but which lacked some specifics. He did not specify the missing specifics but it would be interesting to know whether they included named countries or targets.
Those with the responsibility for issuing terror warnings have a difficult job to do and carry a heavy responsibility. If they fail to warn and an attack takes place they will not be forgiven. But in the case under review it would surely have been possible to indicate the degree of risk involved rather than leaving it the public to make their own judgement.
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