NEW DELHI: Australia and Britain on Thursday warned tourists of the increased risk of militant attacks in New Delhi, joining Canada and the US, which have urged foreigners to avoid parts of the Indian capital.
The United States said Wednesday it had information of a “specific” threat to half-a-dozen of the city’s shopping areas and markets which it described as “especially attractive targets.”
The Canadian government said on its website that an attack could be carried out “in the following days or weeks in market areas” of Delhi frequented by foreigners.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade updated its travellers’ website on Thursday to give information about the new warnings issued by the United States and Canada a day earlier.
Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash, Karol Bagh, Mehrauli and Sarojini Nagar are all believed to be possible targets for terrorist attack in the Indian capital, the website says.
Following this new advice, the Australian High Commission in New Delhi said Thursday it “strongly” advised Australians “to minimise their presence in market areas of New Delhi.”
The warnings come as thousands of athletes and tourists prepare to travel to New Delhi for the Commonwealth Games and only days after bomb blasts rocked Bangalore ahead of the Indian Premier League semi-finals.
The advisories were upgrades to previous general advice warning of attacks on prominent business and tourist locations such as Western-owned hotels.
A statement from the British High Commission on Thursday warned that “there are increased indications that terrorists are planning attacks in New Delhi.”
In February, a bomb ripped through a crowded restaurant popular with travellers in the western city of Pune, killing 16 people, including five foreigners.
Australia, however, has not upgraded the overall level of advice on India, continuing to urge travellers to exercise a high degree of caution while in the country. —Agencies
Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/07-australia-britain-issue-travel-warnings-for-india-ha-01
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