US warns citizens from visiting Islamabad's Marriott hotel

The US has asked its citizens to avoid the area around Islamabad's Marriott hotel due to a potential terror attack against the facility frequented by foreigners.
"The embassy is aware of a general but uncorroborated threat against the Marriott hotel in Islamabad. US citizens are advised to avoid the area for the next several days to allow time to assess the situation," said an advisory posted on the website of the embassy here on Saturday.
Marriott hotel was bombed on September 20, 2008, which killed over 54 people and injured dozens others.
Several Americans were among the dead.
In the advisory, the embassy reminded US citizens there is an active travel warning for Pakistan which was issued on April 7, 2016 and a worldwide travel alert issued on November 23, 2015.

"US citizens are urged to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan," it said. "The Mission reminds those US citizens considering travel to or remaining in Pakistan despite this warning to enroll in the Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme (STEP), keep a trusted friend informed of your movements in country, maintain vigilant situational awareness, avoid large crowds, keep a low profile, and avoid visiting locations frequented by Westerners.
US citizens in Pakistan are strongly urged to avoid hotels that do not apply stringent security measures, it added.
The message pointed out that official US Mission personnel and visitors were not allowed to use public transportation and were not authorised to stay overnight in hotels in Pakistan.