US issues travel warning over Europe summer attacks

It draws special attention to the European Soccer Championship from June 10 to July 10

The US State Department has issued a travel warning alert to Americans on the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centres and transportation.

The Travel Alert that expires on August 31, 2016 states that the large number of tourists visiting Europe in the summer can be targets for terrorists planning attacks in public locations, especially at large events.

The warning draws special attention to the European Soccer Championship from June 10 to July 10, the Tour de France cycling race which will be held from July 2 to 24 in France and the Catholic Church's World Youth Day event in Krakow, Poland, between July 26-31, which is expected to attract up to 2.5 million visitors.

According to the Guardian, the alert came just hours after the French president, François Hollande, said that terrorism remained the biggest threat to the UEFA Euro 2016 football championship, which is scheduled in June and July.

The travel alert follows terrorist attacks in Paris in November and in Brussels in March, which killed 130 and 32 people respectively. The US previously issued a global travel alert following the attacks in Paris, and issued a travel alert for Europe specially after the attacks in Brussels. In March, the State Department encouraged citizens to exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation.