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U.S. warns of possible terror attack at Uganda's airport

03 July 2014 21:12 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. U.S. has warned its citizens in Uganda that intelligence showed that there is likely to be a terror attack at the country's Entebbe International Airport, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The U.S. embassy in Uganda said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday that it had received information from the Uganda police force that there is a specific threat to attack the airport located 40 km south of the capital Kampala.

"The U.S. Embassy has received information from the Uganda Police Force that according to intelligence sources there is a specific threat to attack Entebbe International Airport by an unknown terrorist group today, July 3, between the hours of 21:00 p.m.-- 23:00 p.m.," the statement said.

"Individuals planning travel through the airport this evening may want to review their plans in light of this information," the statement added.

The embassy said Uganda continues to face terror threats.

"The targets for these attacks could include hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping malls, diplomatic missions, transportation hubs, religious institutions, government offices, or public transportation," the statement said.

The Ugandan police earlier on Thursday said it had beefed up security in the country to avert any possible terror attack.

Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman told Xinhua by telephone that security has been enhanced in the capital Kampala and major towns to avoid the repeat of the 2010 World Cup final, when Somali militants Al-Shabaab carried twin bombings in the capital, killing 78 football fans.

The twin bombings at Kyadondo Rugby Club and Ethiopian Village Restaurant, Kabalagala left 78 dead and dozens injured.

Onyango said counter terrorism police, bomb squad and military are manning the capital, major towns and doing on-spot checks to prevent any terror attacks.

Early last month, police issued a terror alert that four vehicles reportedly carrying terrorists were suspected to have sneaked into the country using the Kenya-Uganda border.