AMERICAS

United States (Security threat level – 2): At approximately 1930 local time (2330 UTC) on 18 May 2022, a gunman opened fire near the campus of Temple University in northern Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wounding five people. Three of the victims were hospitalized in critical condition. Police have arrested one suspect in relation to the event and seized a firearm. The motive for the shooting remains unknown.

ASIA

Sri Lanka (Security threat level – 4): The threat level for Colombo has been raised to 4 (High) from 3 (Medium) in light of the worsening economic and security conditions in the city. A countrywide state of emergency has been in effect since 7 May and the government has imposed several intermittent nighttime curfews. Clashes between government supporters and anti-government demonstrators have occurred near the MynaGoGama and GotaGoGama protest sites in central Colombo. Additionally, hundreds of protesters have staged continuous demonstrations at Galle Face Green urban park near the president’s office in the city center since early April. Demonstrators have vowed to continue protests until President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns from office; consequently, protests are highly likely to continue in the immediate term.

Acute shortages of fuel and essential goods, including food and medicines, are ongoing. On 16 May newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe advised residents to avoid queuing for fuel due to a nationwide lack of supply. Wickremesinghe has warned that electricity outages may increase to 15 hours a day from the current peak of 8 hours a day. The overall operating conditions in the city are likely to deteriorate further due to shortages of foreign currency required to purchase essential goods.

Tajikistan (Security threat level – 4): On 18 May 2022, clashes occurred between anti-government demonstrators and security forces in the eastern Gorno-Badakhshan region — located along the country’s border with Afghanistan and China. There were reports of multiple roadblocks in Khorog, the regional capital, and along the Pamir Highway. According to Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry, individuals armed with weapons and Molotov cocktails attacked security forces during an “anti-terror operation.” The ministry claims that nine people, including a police officer, were killed in the event and at least 25 others were wounded. However, local media reports indicate that 21 protesters were killed in the Rushon district alone. Authorities have detained at least 70 locals. Anti-government protest actions intensified on 16 May after one demonstrator was killed in Khorog during an anti-government march calling for the resignation of local government officials, including the region’s chief official and the mayor of Khorog.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

South Africa (Security threat level – 4): Shortly after 1100 local time (0900 UTC) on 19 May 2022, police officers in the capital Pretoria deployed stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party who were blocking access to the Tshwane House, located in the city center. The gathering was organized to protest a scheduled budget speech. At least one protester reportedly sustained injuries during the demonstration. EFF opposes the city government’s plans to reverse the process of insourcing workers in the security and cleaning services.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Turkey (Security threat level – 3): On 19 May 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara issued a Demonstration Alert for Istanbul, which reads in part as follows: “A large demonstration organized by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) party is scheduled to take place in Maltepe, on the Asian side of Istanbul, Saturday evening, May 21. The Turkish National Police have used measures. including water cannons, tear gas, and non-lethal projectiles, to control crowds at protests in the past. There is a strong possibility similar measures will be employed at this demonstration. Avoid demonstrations and protests as they can be unpredictable and at times become violent.”