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| US embassies to shut on Sunday over 'security threat' | US embassies to shut on Sunday over 'security threat' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US will close a number embassies and consulates, mostly in the Middle East, on Sunday in response to an unspecified threat, officials say. | |
| A state department spokeswoman said the order applied to any embassy or consulate normally open on Sunday. | A state department spokeswoman said the order applied to any embassy or consulate normally open on Sunday. |
| In the Muslim world, Sunday is a work day. In other parts of the world US diplomatic offices are shut on Sunday. | In the Muslim world, Sunday is a work day. In other parts of the world US diplomatic offices are shut on Sunday. |
| Last year on 11 September, the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked, leaving four Americans dead. | Last year on 11 September, the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked, leaving four Americans dead. |
| Other embassies are routinely targets of protesters. | Other embassies are routinely targets of protesters. |
| "We have instructed all US embassies and consulates that would have normally been open on Sunday to suspend operations, specifically on August 4th," a senior state department official told the BBC. | "We have instructed all US embassies and consulates that would have normally been open on Sunday to suspend operations, specifically on August 4th," a senior state department official told the BBC. |
| "It is possible we may have additional days of closing as well." | "It is possible we may have additional days of closing as well." |
| The official said the state department had "been apprised of information" leading it to these "precautionary steps... out of an abundance of caution". | The official said the state department had "been apprised of information" leading it to these "precautionary steps... out of an abundance of caution". |
| Last year, the attack on the facility in Benghazi led to the deaths of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens, as well as three other US consulate staff. |