eNCA reports quote Jasmine Opperman, a director at the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium, that face-to-face recruiters are active in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Newcastle and Port Elizabeth.
‘The moment you have face-to-face recruiters, the next step is the formation of recruitment cells. And Morocco, Spain and Europe has proven that once you have recruitment cells, the operationalisation of these cells to take active action is the next step… South Africa’s vulnerability is increasing, and that is the concern”.
The US embassy said over the weekend they have a ‘Security Message for US Citizens” and that there are ‘threats to shopping areas and malls’.
“The US Diplomatic Mission to South Africa informs US citizens that the US Government has received information that terrorist groups are planning to carry out near-term attacks against places where US citizens congregate in South Africa, such as upscale shopping areas and malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“This information comes against the backdrop of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s public call for its adherents to carry out terrorist attacks globally during the upcoming month of Ramadan.”
The UK embassy said “here is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners such as shopping areas in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.”
This is the second time the US embassy has warned against terrorist attacks after a similar alert was issued in September. This time US Embassy spokesperson Cynthia Harvey said: “Protection of US citizens overseas is among our top priorities. When we receive specific, credible, non-counterable threat information, it is our worldwide policy for US embassies and consulates to share the information.
“We are co-operating with local authorities, as we do in any investigation into terrorist threats around the world.”
She said US citizens were advised to enroll their international travel plans on a government web site.
“There will be no change to operations at US Embassy Pretoria or our Consulates in Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg,” she said.