US issues worldwide terror alert as thanksgiving draws near

The US has issued a worldwide travel alert for its citizens in response to "increased terrorist threats". The state department said "current information" suggested the Islamic State [IS] group, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and others continued "to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions". The alert, it said, will remain in place until 24 February 2016. France, Russia, Mali and several other countries have seen deadly attacks in the past month. They have advised everyone to take caution in public places, during holidays and at large gatherings such as sporting matches or concerts, the BBC reports.
"Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIL/Da'esh [IS] return from Syria and Iraq," the state department said.
Such broad warnings have been criticized in the past, both for being so vague as to be of little practical use and for doing the terrorists' job for them by creating a climate of fear in which governments may introduce repressive policies. But with millions of Americans travelling this week to celebrate Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday, US officials insist the action is a sensible reminder of the global terrorist threat.