Travel Safety Advice

ecurity Expert, and Director of red24's Crisis Response Management Centre, Neil Thompson, has the following advice to give you should you encounter a situation in an area of political instability or civil unrest, and tips on how to stay safe at major even

Miscellaneous travel security advice

There are [33] stories about Miscellaneous travel security advice


Child abductions – Separating facts from fiction

WORLDWIDE | Thursday, 9 Aug 2007 | Views [2045] | Comments [3]

The abduction of children naturally generates a great deal of public concern. Crimes such as the alleged kidnapping of four-year-old Madeleine McCann in Portugal and the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2003 are among the most notorious ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, abduction


Peru’s widespread civil unrest

PERU | Thursday, 19 Jul 2007 | Views [952]

Over the past week, crippling strikes and demonstrations organised by labour unions and regional protest organisations have paralysed large swathes of Peru. Teachers and farm workers protesting against the economic and social policies of President Alan ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, peru, red24, civil unrest, protest


Storming of Red Mosque likely to lead to further violence

PAKISTAN | Thursday, 12 Jul 2007 | Views [391]

At 04:00 local time on 10 July 2007, Pakistani special forces launched ‘Operation Silence’, a military incursion into the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, located in the heart of Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. The operation brought an end to an eight-day ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, red mosque, pakistan


Facing a multi-faceted and long-term jihadist threat

UNITED KINGDOM | Thursday, 5 Jul 2007 | Views [360]

As the 7/7 anniversary approaches, the UK finds itself once again on a high state of alert for terrorism. At 15:15 on 30 June 2007, two men attempted to drive a gas and petrol-laden Jeep Cherokee 4x4 into the main entrance of Terminal 1 at Glasgow International ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, uk


A Resurgent Tuareg Insurgency?

NIGER | Thursday, 28 Jun 2007 | Views [724] | Comments [1]

On 22 June 2007, militants from a Tuareg rebel group attacked a military garrison in the remote Saharan outpost of Tazerzait, northern Niger. The dawn raid resulted in the deaths of at least 13 government soldiers, the wounding of a further 30 and ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, tuareg, rebellion, niger


Rio de Janeiro – No end to the gang violence?

BRAZIL | Thursday, 21 Jun 2007 | Views [1594]

On 14 June, more than 400 military and federal police officers from Brazil’s elite security forces raided the German Complex, a sprawling slum located just twenty minutes from downtown Rio de Janeiro. The officers, clad in combat gear and carrying assault ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, brazil, rio de janeiro, gang violence


The implications of a Turkish incursion into Iraq

TURKEY | Friday, 8 Jun 2007 | Views [603]

Unconfirmed reports on 6 June that Turkey had deployed several hundred troops into northern Iraq on a cross-border counter-terrorism operation against Kurdish militants have fuelled concerns that Turkey is planning an imminent and significant incursion ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, turkey, iraq, kurdish


Unrest in Karachi

PAKISTAN | Friday, 18 May 2007 | Views [593]

On 14 May 2007, a general strike closed banks, shops, markets and schools throughout Karachi, paralysing the Pakistani port city. Similar scenes could be witnessed in towns and cities throughout southern Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, karachi, pakistan, unrest


Elections in the Philippines – A catalyst for violence

PHILIPPINES | Thursday, 10 May 2007 | Views [766]

On 14 May 2007, 45 million Filipinos will go to the polls to vote in mid-term legislative and local elections. The polls, contested by nearly 87,000 candidates, are being touted as a referendum on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s governance. At stake ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, philippines


The rise of the anti-Putin movement

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Friday, 13 Apr 2007 | Views [686]

On 14 April 2007, various Russian opposition groups will hold a large rally in central Moscow to protest against President Vladimir Putin and his government. Another so-called ‘Dissenters March’ will take place a day later in St Petersburg. These two ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, russia, putin, kremlin, moscow


Elections amid uncertainty

TIMOR-LESTE | Thursday, 5 Apr 2007 | Views [597]

Campaigning is currently underway ahead of East Timor's 9 April 2007 presidential election. The country's prime minister, Jose Ramos-Horta, is seen as the favourite to win but he faces stiff competition from seven other candidates, with the current ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, east timor, elections, timor-leste


A renewed battlefield?

SRI LANKA | Friday, 30 Mar 2007 | Views [723] | Comments [1]

On 26 March, shortly before 01:00 local time, two light aircraft (one according to the government) belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Ealam (LTTE) dropped several bombs on Sri Lanka's Katunayake air force base situated next to Colombo international ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, sri lanka, colombo, tamil tigers


Kidnapping highlights risks in remote Afar region

ETHIOPIA | Thursday, 15 Mar 2007 | Views [1138]

On 1 March 2007, a group of five Europeans (three British men, a British-Italian woman and a French woman) from the British embassy in Addis Ababa, and a dozen Ethiopian guides and helpers, were abducted near the village of Hamedali in the Afar region ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, afar, ethiopia, addis ababa, eritrea, kidnapping


The northern insurgency reignites

YEMEN | Friday, 9 Mar 2007 | Views [783]

Clashes between government troops and Shiite rebels in Yemen's northern province of Saada continue to rage. Although precise figures are hard to obtain due to a military-enforced media blackout in the region, unconfirmed reports suggest that over 400 ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, shiite, rebels, yemen


Guinea - Standing on the precipice?

GUINEA | Friday, 23 Feb 2007 | Views [712]

On 12 February 2007, Guinean President Lansana Conte declared a 'state of siege' and established martial law and a curfew throughout Guinea. Government forces, including members of the presidential guard, gendarmes and the police, were deployed throughout ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, guinea, conakry, state of seige, curfew, instability


Crime in South Africa – An Unassailable Problem?

SOUTH AFRICA | Monday, 12 Feb 2007 | Views [2827] | Comments [6]

On 9 February 2007, South African President Thabo Mbeki acknowledged in his eighth annual State of the Nation speech that his government needed to work harder to combat the ‘ugly and repulsive’ scourge of violent crime. Mbeki, under pressure after recently ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, south africa, crime, thabo mbeki, security


Kosovo - a potential flashpoint

WORLDWIDE | Thursday, 8 Feb 2007 | Views [791]

On 2 February 2007, the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to Kosovo, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, presented his plan for the future of the troubled Serb province. Ahtisaari’s proposal allows Kosovo supervised separation from Serbia and ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, red24, kosovo, united nations, serbia


The persisting anarchist and far-left terror threat

GREECE | Thursday, 1 Feb 2007 | Views [687]

On 12 January 2007, a small anti-tank rocket was fired at the US embassy compound in the centre of the Greek capital, Athens. Narrowly missing the embassy emblem, the rocket pierced the building and exploded inside. Although it caused only minor damage ... Read more >

Tags: Travel Safety


A growing gang threat?

USA | Sunday, 14 Jan 2007 | Views [1893]

On 11 January 2007, over 5,000 people marched on New Orleans City hall to protest against a wave of violent crime that has engulfed their city since Hurricane Katrina devastated it in August 2005. Although the famous city’s population dropped by half ... Read more >

Tags: The Planning Phase


India – The continuing terrorist threat

INDIA | Monday, 8 Jan 2007 | Views [1718]

On 5 January 2007, Indian police arrested a suspected militant in a village near the city of Bangalore that hosts a number of high-tech firms. Police discovered a rifle, ammunition, five hand grenades and a satellite phone with several SIM cards in ... Read more >

Tags: Travel Safety


Bangkok bombings suggest turbulent 2007 for Thailand

THAILAND | Thursday, 4 Jan 2007 | Views [1585]

On 31 December 2006, a series of bombs exploded across Bangkok, killing three people and injuring 42, including nine foreigners. The bombs, placed in rubbish bins and triggered by alarm clocks, went off in two batches. The first five bombs detonated ... Read more >

Tags: Travel Safety


The resurgence of the militant Islamist threat in Algeria

ALGERIA | Wednesday, 20 Dec 2006 | Views [1072]

At 17:30 local time on 11 December 2006, a security vehicle and a bus carrying foreign oil workers came under attack as they travelled from al Achour, Algiers, to Staoueli, western Algeria. The bus was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) before ... Read more >

Tags: Travel Safety


Cuba after Castro

CUBA | Tuesday, 12 Dec 2006 | Views [1297]

The health of Cuban president Fidel Castro appears to be showing no sign of improvement and, as a result, his 47-year grip on power seems destined to end shortly. On 2 December 2006, Castro’s ill-health prevented him attending a huge military parade ... Read more >

Tags: history, cuba, castro


Naples in the midst of a mafia war

ITALY | Wednesday, 22 Nov 2006 | Views [2345] | Comments [1]

The Mediterranean city of Naples has been gripped by a wave of Mafioso-inspired violence over the past year. Gun battles, robberies, muggings and murders have become commonplace in Italy’s third largest city. A war between the region’s major criminal ... Read more >

Tags: Travel Safety


Nepal – A chance for peace?

NEPAL | Thursday, 16 Nov 2006 | Views [625]

Nepal’s political and security environment appears to be improving. On 8 November 2006, Nepal’s Maoist rebels and the country’s ruling Seven Party alliance reached a breakthrough agreement that will pave the way for the Maoists’ inclusion in an interim ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, nepal


Fiji – Trouble in Paradise?

FIJI | Wednesday, 8 Nov 2006 | Views [1156]

The political and security situation in Fiji is currently unstable. The relationship between the country’s civilian government and its military has deteriorated to the point that there are now fears of a military coup. The head of the army, Chief Commodore ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, fiji


The Philippines – the terror risk examined

PHILIPPINES | Thursday, 26 Oct 2006 | Views [1271]

On 16 October 2006, the UK, US and Australian governments issued travel warnings for the Philippines and cautioned against all travel to Mindanao, the country’s second largest island, and to the Sulu archipelago, which includes the islands of Basilan, ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, philippines


Travel Advice for travel to Thailand

THAILAND | Thursday, 28 Sep 2006 | Views [918]

Thailand coup update On the evening of 19 September, Thai military forces loyal to General Sonthi Boonyaratglin moved into the country’s capital, Bangkok, taking control of most government buildings, including Government House. The leaders ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, thailand, coup


The security implications of Thailand’s coup

THAILAND | Wednesday, 27 Sep 2006 | Views [872] | Comments [3]

After more than a half century of military coups and other interventions, Thailand has once again suffered a sudden and undemocratic change of government. At midnight on 19 September 2006, Royal Thai Army Chief Lt Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin successfully ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, thailand


Lebanon's uncertain future

LEBANON | Thursday, 21 Sep 2006 | Views [739]

Lebanon’s ‘Cedar’ Revolution in the early months of 2005 gave hope to many in Lebanon that their country would emerge from 30 years of Syrian control as a thriving, diverse, democratic, commercial centre. However, 34 days of war on Lebanese soil between ... Read more >

Tags: travel safety, lebanon


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