Al Qaeda planning attack on US facilities

Al-Qaeda and other terror groups like the Taliban and their affiliates are planning to strike against American facilities and its nationals in South and Central Asia, the United States said on Saturday.

While US government facilities remain at a heightened state of alert, the State Department in a travel alert said the terrorists groups may strike by vehicle-born explosives, improvised explosive devices, assassinations, carjacking, rocket attacks, assaults or kidnappings.

The US government continues to receive information that terrorist groups in South and Central Asia may be planning attacks in the region, possibly against US government facilities, American citizens, or interests, the a travel alert issued by the State Department stated.

"The resence of al-Qaeda, Taliban elements, indigenous sectarian groups, and other terror organisations, many of which are on the US Government's list of foreign terror organisations, poses a potential danger to American citizens in the region," it said.

Terrorists and their sympathisers have demonstrated their willingness and capability to attack targets where Americans or Westerners are known to congregate or visit, said the travel alert.

Since October 2009, terrorists have executed coordinated attacks with multiple operatives using portable weaponry such as guns, grenades, RPGs and suicide vests or car bombs in Pakistan, the travel alert said, adding that US citizens have been victims in such attacks.