AMERICAS

Guatemala (Security threat level – 4): On 8 June 2022, legislators in Guatemala approved President Alejandro Giammattei’s state of siege declaration for the municipalities of Ixchiguán and Tajumulco, located in the northwestern San Marcos department. The emergency measure – put forth to counter the recent spike in violence in the two municipalities — suspends the right to assembly and to carry weapons, and prohibits travel nightly from 1800 to 0600 local time (0000 to 1200 UTC). The state of siege is expected to remain in place for the next 30 days.

ASIA

China (Security threat level – 3): On 9 June 2022, local authorities in Shanghai imposed a two-day lockdown in the city’s Minhang district in an attempt to curb the risk of COVID-19 transmission after four new symptomatic cases were discovered in the district the previous day. During the lockdown period, more than 2 million district residents are required to stay home and will be subject to mass nucleic acid testing on 11 June. Lockdowns at the district level following the discovery of new COVID-19 cases have been common in Shanghai due to the Chinese government’s dynamic zero-COVID policy.

China (Security threat level – 3): At approximately 1200 local time (0400 UTC) on 9 June 2022, a Chinese military aircraft crashed in a residential area of Laohekou city in Hubei province, located approximately 320 km (200 mi) west of the provincial capital Wuhan. The Chengdu J-7 aircraft struck a private residence and caught fire. Emergency response teams arrived on scene and extinguished the blaze. At least one person on the ground was killed and two others were injured. The aircraft’s pilot, who was reportedly conducting a training mission, parachuted to the ground before the crash and sustained only minor injuries. The cause of the crash is unknown.

India (Security threat level – 3): On 8 June 2022, the Indian government enhanced security measures in key locations nationwide in response to reported threats of bombings and attacks by the al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) militant group. Local media outlets initially began divulging AQIS letters they had received on 6 June, which promised attacks in several locations, including Mumbai and New Delhi, in retaliation for disparaging comments regarding the Prophet Muhammad made by a spokeswoman for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a televised debate. In addition to increasing the number of security personnel at government buildings and transportation hubs, the Home Ministry has ordered police officials to prohibit public gatherings and protests as intelligence agencies investigate the credibility of the terrorist threats.

South Korea (Security threat level – 2): At approximately 1100 local time (0200 UTC) on 9 June 2022, a fire broke out in a seven-story office building in Daegu city, located approximately 250 km (150 mi) southeast of the capital Seoul. The blaze started on the second floor of the building, which is situated behind the city’s district courthouse, and spread to other floors. Firefighters arrived at the scene approximately 20 minutes later and promptly extinguished the blaze. At least seven people were killed and 49 others were injured; most of the injuries were related to smoke inhalation. Police officers suspect that the fire was started by an arsonist who was among those killed in the event.

Sri Lanka (Security threat level – 4): At 0001 local time on 9 June 2022 (1831 UTC on 8 June), approximately 900 engineers associated with the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) commenced strike actions to oppose legislation governing Sri Lanka’s energy sector. According to local officials, the strike will likely curtail operations at eight hydropower electricity plants. It is unclear what effect the labor action will have on each city’s power supply, as rolling electricity outages related to the country’s economic crisis — lasting 5-13 hours a day — have been ongoing in the capital Colombo since late March.

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

Iraq (Security threat level – 5): At approximately 2135 local time (1835 UTC) on 8 June 2022, an explosives-laden drone detonated on Pirmam-Erbil road near the UAE Consulate building in the northern city of Erbil. At least three people were injured in the blast and several nearby civilian vehicles were damaged. The intended target of the attack is unclear. According to the Kurdistan Region Security Council, members of the Iran-aligned Kataib Hezbollah militia group launched the drone from the town of Altun Kupri, located approximately 50 km (30 mi) south of Erbil.