The US State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert for American citizens because of a potential al Qaeda threat in August.
The potential for a terror strike is particularly strong in the Middle East and North Africa, the department said, and comes a day after the US said it would shutter its embassies and consulates throughout the region on Sunday.
In a statement the US state department said al Qaeda and its affiliated organisations "continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond," the Associated Press reported.
"Current information suggests that al Qaeda and affiliated organisations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August," the statement said.