international air travel alert
August 10, 2006
The following is a Warden Message issued by the Consulate General of the United States of America in Guayaquil. The following message contains all of the information available. Further information may be found in the embedded Web links. Please share it with the American citizens on your warden list, and any other Americans you know, as soon as possible. It should be disseminated as widely as possible with the American citizen community. Please contact the American Citizen Services section via e-mail (acsguayaquil@state.gov), fax 232-0904, or telephone 232-3570 if you have any questions. Thank you very much for your support and assistance.
This public announcement alerts Americans to the government of the United Kingdom's August 10, 2006 announcement that it has heightened security at all U.K. airports due to the arrest of several terror suspects, who were reportedly planning to place explosives on commercial air flights. Americans with immediate travel plans into or out of the United Kingdom should contact their respective airlines before traveling to the airport. Due to delays and flight cancellations, U.S. officials have been cautioned to avoid transiting through U.K. airports at this time. Heightened security in other countries may cause delays in other flights from Europe to the United States. American Citizens are advised to anticipate stringent security measures and cooperate fully with authorities.
As a result of these arrests, the threat level in the UK has been raised to critical, reflecting the belief that an attack may be imminent. In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security has also raised the threat level to high for all commercial flights operating in or coming to the United States. The situation remains fluid and is being covered widely by British and international media. Information periodically is updated by the U.K. Department for Transport (www.dft.gov.uk) and the British Airport Authority (www.baa.co.uk). The U.S. Embassy in London also maintains a website at http://london.usembassy.gov.
U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov.
U.S. government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. Embassies and Consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens.
Americans living or traveling in Ecuador are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Ecuador. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. Please see the following links for local warden message information in Quito and Guayaquil, respectively, at http://www.usembassy.org.ec/English/IndexEN.htm and http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/.
The U.S. Embassy in Quito is located at the corner of Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria (across from the Casa de la Cultura). The telephone during business hours ( 8:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) is (011) 593 2 256 2890 X4510. For after-hours emergencies use (011) 593 2 256 1749. The fax is (011) 593 2 256 1254. Within the same city use the last seven digits. Add the city code for intercity telephone calls. See also the Embassy web site at http://www.usembassy.org.ec/.
The U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil is located at the corner of 9 de Octubre and Garcia Moreno (near the Hotel Oro Verde); telephone (011-593-4) 232-3570 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or 232-1152 for after-hours emergencies; fax (011-593-4) 232-0904. See the Consulate General web site at http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
This e-mail is UNCLASSIFIED based on the definitions provided in E.O. 12958
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Los enlaces externos a otros sitios de Internet no se deben interpretar como endorso de las visiones o de las políticas contenidas en este.
Los enlaces externos a otros sitios de Internet no se deben interpretar como endorso de las visiones o de las políticas contenidas en este.
