Embassy Warns of Threat to Americans in Beijing

Security has been tightened around a Beijing bar and shopping area popular with foreigners as embassies issued warnings that foreigners should be on guard for possible threats against them. The American, British, French, and other embassies said they had received information of possible threats against Westerners in the Sanlitun area on or around Christmas Day. "US citizens are urged to exercise heightened vigilance," a statement on the embassy website said. Beijing police announced Thursday they had issued a yellow security alert to ensure safety during the Christmas period. According to Beijing's security regulations, the alert is issued in the case of the receipt of threats to safety or finding suspected explosives. (More Beijing stories.)