U.S. Extends Embassy Closures after Intercepted Al Qaeda Message
Barbara Starr, Chris Lawrence, and Holly Yan of CNN report that the State Department closed 22 embassies and consulates on Sunday after a message among senior al Qaeda members was intercepted. Some of the closures will last through this coming Saturday. Two other factors, in addition to the intercepted message, prompted the closures: the end of Ramadan and recent prison breaks in the region. “This is not an indication of a new threat stream, merely an indication of our commitment to exercise caution and take appropriate steps to protect our employees,” the State Department said.