U.S. issues travel warning for major European country over fears of terrorist activity

Neuschwanstein castle

The U.S. State Department warns that travelers to Germany should exercise extreme caution on their visit. The travel advisory issued Wednesday was issue over concerns about terrorist activity. Seen here is the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, an iconic sight in the central European nation.

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WASHINGTON – A new advisory from the U.S. State Department warns European travelers to exercise increased caution if they visit Germany for fear of terrorist activity.

The warnings were contained in an advisory issued Wednesday that said terrorist groups continue to plan attacks in Germany and may strike with little or no warning.

“They target tourist locations and transportation hubs,” the advisory states. “They also target markets/shopping malls and local government facilities. They target hotels, clubs, and restaurants. They also attack places of worship, parks, and major sporting and cultural events. They target schools, airports, and other public areas.”

The advisory is a Level Two warning that calls for exercising increased caution. Level Three (Reconsider Travel) and Level Four (Do Not Travel) advisories are the two more serious levels.

But the Level Two advisory for Germany is unusual. It is a large nation in central Europe with a thriving economy and a population second only to Russia.

The only more serious warnings issued in the last year for European travel were for countries impacted by the war in Ukraine. Do-not-travel warnings were issued for Ukraine (May 2023), Belarus (July 2023) and Russia (September 2023) in connection with the fighting.

The State Department cautions that U.S. citizens traveling to Germany should take the following measures:

  • Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.
  • Follow instructions of local authorities.
  • Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust plans based on new information.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Review the State Department’s Country Security Report for Germany.
  • Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention online to learn the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the State Department’s Traveler’s Checklist.

Travelers may also want to follow the State Department on Facebook and Twitter for any updates, the advisory states.

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