AhlulBayt News Agency - The United States warned its citizens on Saturday of possible attacks by Islamist militants on US facilities or shopping malls in South Africa during the coming month of Ramadan. The South African government, however, said the country was safe.
The US embassy said Saturday that it had obtained information about possible terror attacks during the holy month of Ramadan.
"This information comes against the backdrop of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's (ISIL) public call for its adherents to carry out terrorist attacks globally during the upcoming month of Ramadan," said the US embassy in a statement posted on its website.
It said the commercial hubs of Johannesburg and Cape Town, which are seen as some of South Africa's tourist attractions, could be the main target areas.
South African police said they were studying the US embassy statement, Reuters reported.
The country's foreign affairs department said South African security agencies were capable of ensuring the safety of its residents, noting that no incident or attack had taken place after the previous warning by the US embassy last year.
"The state security agency and other security agencies in this country are very much capable of keeping South Africa safe and everybody in this country, including Americans," foreign affair's ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said.
Last September, the US warned Americans of a possible attack by "extremists" in South Africa.
The US embassy and consulates in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town closed for several days in 2009 after what American officials described as a "specific" threat to diplomatic missions in South Africa.
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