Algeria: Islamic State claims August 31 attack in Tiaret; further attacks possible /update 1

Event

The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the August 31 suicide attack on a police station in Tiaret (west) that left two policemen dead and wounded one other. Further attacks are possible throughout the country.

Context

This attack was the second suicide bomb attack targeting police since the beginning of the year in Algeria. In February, two police stations in the Bab Al-Kantara and Boudjenana neighborhoods of the city of Constantine were attacked by a suicide bomber and armed assailants, respectively, leaving several policemen wounded.

Islamist groups remain active in the country, including Al-Qa’ida and Islamic State (IS) affiliates, which mainly target security forces.

Advice

Due to the risk of terrorism throughout the country, individuals present in Algeria are advised to maintain a high degree of vigilance, to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities, and to be particularly cautious when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels, and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.).

Due to these and other security concerns, a number of Western governments advise against travel to the desert regions of central and southern Algeria, including the entire border with Libya. Only a few large cities (Algiers, Oran, and Tlemncen) should be considered relatively safe thanks to a heavy security presence.