The State Department has evacuated most of its diplomats from Lahore, Pakistan, in response to a terrorist threat against the U.S. consulate there, senior State Department and other senior U.S. officials told CNN.
Except for a handful of emergency personnel, the diplomats were moved to Islamabad, the Pakistan capital, officials said. It was unclear whether the threat to the consulate was related to a current threat against U.S. facilities and personnel that prompted the U.S. to close diplomatic posts throughout the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
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The State Department has evacuated most of its diplomats from Lahore, Pakistan in response to terrorist threats against the U.S. consulate, according to senior officials.
'We have picked up what we regard as a threat worthy of taking this action,' a senior U.S. official told CNN.
All diplomats were ordered to evacuate Thursday except for a few emergency personnel. The diplomats were reportedly moved to Islamabad.
Pakistani security personnel stand guard outside the US consulate in Lahore on August 5, 2013
The threat in Lahore is reportedly unrelated to the ongoing terror threat against U.S. personnel that has prompted the closures of diplomatic posts throughout the Middle East andAfrica. No U.S. posts in Pakistan had been closed due to the earlier threat.
In a warning to U.S. citizens inPakistan, the State Department said it 'ordered this drawdown due to specific threats concerning the U.S. Consulate in Lahore.'
'The presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens throughout Pakistan,' the warning said.
U.S. officials in Islamabad are instructed to limit their travel to public markets and restaurants, especially if traveling with other Americans.
'Movements by U.S. government personnel assigned to the Consulates General are severely restricted, and consulate staff cannot drive personally-owned vehicles,' the warning states.
Nina Fite, United States Consul General in Lahore, Pakistan, was likely among those evacuated on Thursday
source
Except for a handful of emergency personnel, the diplomats were moved to Islamabad, the Pakistan capital, officials said. It was unclear whether the threat to the consulate was related to a current threat against U.S. facilities and personnel that prompted the U.S. to close diplomatic posts throughout the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Get complete coverage of breaking news on CNN.com, CNN TV and CNN Mobile.
The State Department has evacuated most of its diplomats from Lahore, Pakistan in response to terrorist threats against the U.S. consulate, according to senior officials.
'We have picked up what we regard as a threat worthy of taking this action,' a senior U.S. official told CNN.
All diplomats were ordered to evacuate Thursday except for a few emergency personnel. The diplomats were reportedly moved to Islamabad.
The threat in Lahore is reportedly unrelated to the ongoing terror threat against U.S. personnel that has prompted the closures of diplomatic posts throughout the Middle East andAfrica. No U.S. posts in Pakistan had been closed due to the earlier threat.
In a warning to U.S. citizens inPakistan, the State Department said it 'ordered this drawdown due to specific threats concerning the U.S. Consulate in Lahore.'
'The presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens throughout Pakistan,' the warning said.
U.S. officials in Islamabad are instructed to limit their travel to public markets and restaurants, especially if traveling with other Americans.
'Movements by U.S. government personnel assigned to the Consulates General are severely restricted, and consulate staff cannot drive personally-owned vehicles,' the warning states.
source
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