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05-December-2022

AFRICA

Egypt (Security threat level – 4): At approximately 2230 local time (2030 UTC) on 3 December 2022, a bus veered into a crowd of pedestrians near a bridge located along Teraat Al-Tawfiqia Street in Cairo’s Ain Shams neighborhood. According to local news sources, the bus driver lost control of the steering wheel as the vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed. The crash killed at least 12 people and injured eight others who were transported to local health facilities for treatment. Authorities have arrested the bus driver and launched an investigation into the event.

ASIA

China (Security threat level – 3): On 4 December 2022, authorities in Shanghai announced that coronavirus-related testing requirements for using public transportation and entering outdoor public spaces — such as parks and tourism-related locations — will be lifted beginning on 5 December. Individuals will no longer be required to provide negative COVID-19 test results in order to board trains, buses and ferries, nor to visit outdoor recreational areas and public spaces. Similar restrictions were also lifted in Beijing, Nanjing and several other cities during the previous week. Individuals will still be required to present negative COVID-19 test results for entry into indoor public venues — such as restaurants, markets and government buildings. Authorities are expected to lift additional coronavirus-related restrictions in the coming days.

Mongolia (Security threat level – 2): On 4 December 2022, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Sukhbaatar Square in central Ulaanbaatar to protest alleged corruption and theft of profits amounting to nearly 44 trillion Mongolian tughrik (12,825,835 U.S. dollars) within country’s coal industry. Demonstrators demanded that government officials detain those involved in the crime. Traffic along Peace Avenue in the capital was disrupted due to the protests. In response to the protests, the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar issued a Demonstration Alert, which reads in part as follows: “Yesterday evening, several hundred protestors gathered at Sukhbaatar Square and attempted to march to Ikh Tenger, where they were stopped by a police barricade. These protestors expressed their intent to demonstrate again today, 05 December 2022. Expect increased crowds, police presence, and traffic disruptions downtown today. Stay up to date with local news, as these protests may continue. U.S. Government personnel and U.S. citizens are advised to avoid demonstrations and large crowds.”

On 5 December, thousands of demonstrators were seen storming the Government Palace in Ulaanbaatar as a continuation of the 4 December protests against corruption and theft within the country’s coal industry. Ulaanbaatar security forces have blocked entry to the Government Palace in order to deter further protesters from entering the building. A heavy security presence remains in central Ulaanbaatar.

CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

El Salvador (Security threat level – 4): On 3 December 2022, President Nayib Bukele announced the deployment of approximately 10,000 security personnel to the eastern Soyapango municipality in the capital San Salvador to curb gang violence. Security forces surrounded the municipality and blocked roads leading to the area while conducting search operations for gang members. Bukele posted images of troops in military vehicles carrying heavy weaponry, artillery, helmets and bulletproof vests. The security force deployment comes amid the government’s recent crackdown on gang activity in El Salvador, which has resulted in the arrests of more than 58,000 suspected gang members.

EUROPE

France (Security threat level – 3): On 3 December 2022, more than half of the trains with TGV and Intercity rail lines experienced schedule disruptions due to a three-day rail strike organized by workers with the French National Railways (SNCF) union. Approximately 10,000 conductors affiliated with SNCF participated in the strike to call for better working conditions. Travel to Switzerland, Italy and Germany was disrupted due to the strike. The strike action concluded on the evening of 4 December.

United Kingdom (Security threat level – 3): At approximately 0600 local time/UTC on 5 December 2022, police officers evacuated passengers and airport staff from security screening and check-in areas of Scotland’s Glasgow International Airport (EGPF/GLA) following the discovery of a suspicious item in a passenger’s luggage. An explosive ordnance disposal team deployed to the facility to investigate the suspicious item and determined it was harmless. The investigation lasted for approximately six hours, leading to delays and cancellations for an unspecified number of outbound flights; inbound flights were diverted to nearby airports. Operations at Glasgow airport resumed at approximately 1230 local time.

MIDDLE EAST

Syria (Security threat level – 5): On the afternoon of 4 December 2022, security forces fired live ammunition at anti-government protesters in the southwestern city of As-Suwayda — located approximately 40 km (45 mi) north of the Syria-Jordan border. Demonstrators entered a building that houses government agencies, including the governor’s office, and started fires in several areas. They also set fire to nearby vehicles stationed outside. Protesters were reportedly calling for the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad due to economic hardship, poor living conditions and alleged corruption. At least one demonstrator died in the clashes, while seven others sustained gunshot wounds and were later transported to local health facilities for treatment. Protesters later marched from central As-Suwayda along the Damascus-Suwayda highway, blocking traffic in both directions.

Turkey (Security threat level – 3): At approximately 0915 local time (0615 UTC) on 5 December 2022, a public bus collided with a passenger train in the neighborhood of Alibeyköy in Istanbul city. The bus had attempted to cross in front of the train without having sufficient time to do so. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene, assisted with the wounded and extinguished flames caused by the accident. The collision injured 19 people, including four who remain in critical condition. The T5 tram line is closed to two-way traffic between the stations of Alibeyköy and Cibali-University.

NORTH AMERICA

Mexico (Security threat level – 4): On the evening of 4 December 2022, security personnel and prisoners clashed at the Regional Center for Social Reintegration in the town of Cieneguillas, located approximately 8 km (5 mi) west of the state capital Zacatecas, during an attempted prison escape. Witnesses reported sounds of gunfire in several nearby municipalities, including near the cities of Zacatecas and Jerez. Multiple highways were blocked after escaped prisoners or their accomplices set vehicles and infrastructure ablaze and erected barricades on the roads, including on the highways from Zacatecas to Durango, Calera, Saltillo, Aguascalientes and Guadalajara. Escapees also looted and set fire to several freight trucks on the Fresnillo-Zacatecas highway. Authorities, who announced several hours later that the event was contained, stated that the flaming barricades were meant to distract security personnel from the escape attempt.

Mexico (Security threat level – 4): On 2 December 2022, protesters and police officers clashed in the neighborhood of San Gregorio Atlapulco, located in the Xochimilco borough of the capital Mexico City. The violence began as police officers attempted to disperse demonstrators who had erected barricades and lit fires at the intersection of Nuevo León and México avenues. At least 19 police officers and three civilians were injured in the clashes. The protesters set up barricades at the intersection on 1 December to protest a city sanitation infrastructure project that they allege will reduce residents’ available drinking water.

United States (Security threat level – 2): On 4 December 2022, authorities in Moore County, North Carolina, declared a countywide state of emergency and enacted a 2100-0500 local time (0200-1000 UTC) nightly curfew amid power outages following an attack on electrical substations the previous day. At least two substations were damaged by gunfire on the night of 3 December, leaving more than 41,000 homes and businesses without electricity. Authorities estimate that the blackout could last until 8 November. No information is available regarding a possible motive for attacking the electrical substations. The FBI is assisting local police with the investigation into the event.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Indonesia (Security threat level – 4): On the morning of 4 December 2022, Mount Semeru erupted in East Java province — located approximately 95 km (60 mi) south of the city of Surabaya — spewing plumes of ash and smoke 1.5 km (1 mi) into the air. Emergency officials evacuated residents from the nearby villages of Supit Urang and Sumber Wuluh and warned residents near the volcano to observe an 8 km radius restricted area. Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) has since raised the volcano alert status of Semeru to 4 — the highest level – from a 3 because of the threat of additional eruptions for surrounding localities. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation, the eruption and subsequent ash plume do not pose a threat to air traffic in the region.