Brussels:
The European Commission said today it was "monitoring the situation" after US authorities urged Americans travelling in Europe to remain vigilant about potential terrorist attacks.
"We have been informed by the US authorities about the alert. We are in contact with our US partners and we are monitoring the situation," Michele Cercone, spokesman for EU home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem, told AFP. Cercone refused to provide further details.
European diplomat said on condition of anonymity that US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke with Malmstroem by telephone before the alert was issued.
Malmstroem asked US authorities to provide more details about their reasons for the alert at a meeting of European interior ministers on Thursday in Luxembourg, the diplomat said.
"We will discuss (the alert) at the level of ministers next Thursday in Luxembourg to see what response Europe will issue," said Margaux Donckier, a spokeswoman for the interior ministry of Belgium, which holds the EU's rotating presidency.
The US State Department issued a formal alert on Sunday urging Americans to take precautions in public places and transportation systems.
"Current information suggests that Al-Qaeda and affiliated organisations continue to plan terrorist attacks," the State Department said in its alert.
"We have been informed by the US authorities about the alert. We are in contact with our US partners and we are monitoring the situation," Michele Cercone, spokesman for EU home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem, told AFP. Cercone refused to provide further details.
European diplomat said on condition of anonymity that US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke with Malmstroem by telephone before the alert was issued.
Malmstroem asked US authorities to provide more details about their reasons for the alert at a meeting of European interior ministers on Thursday in Luxembourg, the diplomat said.
"We will discuss (the alert) at the level of ministers next Thursday in Luxembourg to see what response Europe will issue," said Margaux Donckier, a spokeswoman for the interior ministry of Belgium, which holds the EU's rotating presidency.
The US State Department issued a formal alert on Sunday urging Americans to take precautions in public places and transportation systems.
"Current information suggests that Al-Qaeda and affiliated organisations continue to plan terrorist attacks," the State Department said in its alert.
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