U.S., U.K. ask citizens in Bangladesh to be on alert

The U.S. and the U.K. have advised their citizens to limit their movement in Bangladesh, a day after an Italian aid worker was shot down in Dhaka. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the murder of Cesare Tavella on Monday.

The U.S. Embassy in an alert update said: “Such attacks, should they occur, could likely affect other foreigners, including U.S. citizens.” The U.S. has “received information” that terrorist groups in the South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, “may be planning attacks in the region, possibly against U.S. government facilities, U.S. citizens, or U.S. interests”.

Australia was the first to express security concerns in Dhaka on Friday following which its cricket team decided to delay its Bangladesh tour.

The U.K. has also advised its citizens to limit movement in Dhaka. In a foreign travel advice update on Monday it advised its officials “to limit attendance at events where westerners may gather”.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamalsaid the involvement of IS in the murder of Tavella was yet to be confirmed. “We are looking into everything that might have been the motive behind the murder.”