The U.S. Embassy in Kampala Uganda issued a "red alert," warning of the dangerous possibility of a potential terror attack that may resemble the terror attack at the Westgate mall in Kenya last month, CBS News reported.
Al Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda linked terror group in Somalia, claimed responsibility for the attack and 4-day siege in Nairobi on September 21, which killed 67 people.
Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, said that the warning had been issued "because of information available. Clearly when there a concern, we provide information to American citizens."
The embassy noted that "it continues to assess reports that a Westgate-style attack may soon occur... [advising U.S. citizens in the area to] exercise vigilance and to avoid public venues that attract large crowds," in a statement on the embassy's web site.
A State Department official declined to provide further information about the potential attackers or the timing of the threat, CBS News reported.
Al-Shabab is "one of the only Al Qaeda affiliates which actually has actively recruited here in the United States," U.S. Rep. Peter King recently said.
