On Friday the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide travel alert because of an unspecified al Qaeda threat. The location of that threat, the department said in a bulletin, is "particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula." As a result, an unprecedented 22 embassies and consulates in 17 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia closed for a day on Sunday. Sunday is also the 27th day of Ramadan and a particularly holy day for the world's Muslims as it is the "Night of Power," when the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.
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Bergen, Cahall: U.S. issued global travel alert, 21 embassies, consulates close Aug. 4
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That day is Ramadan 'Night of Power,' also seen by al Qaeda as good night for martyrdom
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They say night of power has brought earlier terror attacks; embassies a favored target
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Writers: Target may be Egypt, where earlier attack aimed; jailbreaks may also be factor
al Qaeda
al Qaeda
For @placeholder, these diplomatic compounds are attractive targets because they symbolize American power and because their locations are widely known.
U.S.
For al Qaeda, these diplomatic compounds are attractive targets because they symbolize @placeholder power and because their locations are widely known.
Egypt
In May, three men were arrested by @placeholder officials, who said the men were planning to attack the embassy.