Remain Cautious--Even in Europe

Western Europe

As masses of Americans begin summer trips to Europe, the State Department has some cautionary advice for travelers headed for some of the more popular countries:

Britain: It has been a year since the last major Irish Republican Army attack in England, but terrorism remains a possibility. Although Americans are not targeted, they might be affected. Violent crime is relatively rare in Britain. Burglars and pickpockets, however, are very active in London and other large cities. Travelers should not leave valuables unattended in hotel rooms regardless of the stature of the hotel. In London, the Brixton, Lewisham and Pekham areas are considered to have crime rates higher than normal. Public transportation throughout Britain is generally considered safe. The nationwide emergency telephone number--used to report police, fire or medical emergencies--is 999.

France: The last significant terrorist attack occurred in Paris in December. Most Americans who encounter crime in the French capital are victims of theft--pickpocketing, hotel room break-ins, purse snatchings, and auto vandalism and theft. Many Americans report luggage stolen in airports, train stations and hotel lobbies. In addition, about 2,000 Americans a year report their passports stolen in Paris. Among the crime-ridden tourist sites are the Arc de Triomphe-Champs-Elysees area, Sacre-Coeur, L’Opera and the Georges Pompidou Centre/Les Halles area. As in Britain, luxury hotels are not exempt from theft. Tip to travelers: When in a heavy crowd, keep your back to the wall and be alert to possible diversions--musicians, noisily begging children, etc.--who may be allied with thieves. Emergency numbers: police--17; ambulance--15.

Spain: Although generally safe and quiet, Spain has seen some anti-government terrorist activity by the Basque separatist group ETA in the northeast and in Madrid. Street crime is prevalent, and bands of professional pickpockets and petty thieves operate in the major cities, mostly in airports, hotels and other tourist-heavy sites. Local police usually are helpful, but their response time often is slow. Tips to travelers: Carry a photocopy of your passport, and lock the original in the hotel safe. If you have a purse or similar bag, don’t carry it over the shoulder; instead, carry it in front with the strap over the neck and both hands over the bag.

Greece: Terrorism is a continuing factor in Greece, and U.S. government sites and personnel--although not tourists--have been targeted. Most recently, the same extremist group that killed a CIA station chief in 1975 and a U.S. military attache in 1991 murdered a Greek shipowner last month. Tourist areas in Athens and other large cities are considered relatively safe both day and night, although pickpocketing and snatch-and-run thefts appear to be increasing. Per capita, Greece has a large national police force, but its response often is slowed by the capital’s dense traffic and the fact that motorists seldom yield to emergency vehicles. Smog levels can be dangerous to health during Athens’ hot spells, during which the government staggers working hours and limits some traffic in the city center.

South America

Peru: Two months after the government ended the terrorist seizure of the Japanese ambassador’s house in Lima, the State Department reminds Americans of the potential for more terrorism in the capital. In recent years, most bombings have occurred in the evening or early morning, and typical targets have been banks, post offices, public utilities and Peruvian government offices. In addition, two embassies, a hotel and a multinational corporation have been hit. Lima also has been the scene of violence touched off by frequent attempts to evict sidewalk vendors from downtown locations. Last month, the city’s mayor dispatched 1,000 municipal guards to evict about 5,000 vendors, but national police sent by Peru’s president repelled the guards with tear gas and clubs.

Briefly . . .

Netherlands: About 30 residents of the Rotterdam suburb of Spangen turned anti-drug vigilantes in April, beating up two French and two Belgian tourists and wrecking one of their cars. The visitors were described as “drug tourists,” attracted by the Dutch policy of tolerating possession of small amounts of “soft drugs.” . . . Guatemala: An American woman was shot through the neck and seriously injured as the driver of her car ran through a bandit roadblock on the Inter-American Highway between Quetzaltenango and Panajachel. . . . Dominican Republic: The government says three cities have been hit by an epidemic of a meningitis-related disease blamed for the deaths of six people in the past two months, the business publication Travel Weekly reports. The cities are within 35 miles of tourist-popular Santo Domingo. . . . Thailand: The Federal Aviation Administration has upgraded its rating of Thailand’s aviation safety rules from “conditional” to “acceptable,” allowing Thai airlines to operate freely to and from the United States.

Hot spots: Citing unrest in both countries, the State Department has added the Republic of Congo and the newly named Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) to its list of places Americans are cautioned to avoid. Others on the travel-warning list are Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan.

The U.S. State Department offers recorded travel warnings and advisories at (202) 647-5225; the fax line is (202) 647-3000.