US, Britain ask citizens to be on alert after Pune blast

NEW DELHI - The United States and Britain have asked their citizens in India to be on alert after a terror attack in a Pune eatery frequented by foreign nationals killed nine people.

American citizens are advised to be alert to the continued possibility of terrorist attacks in India, the US embassy said Sunday in a message to its nationals in India.

The message noted that the German Bakery in Pune where the blast took place Saturday evening was frequented by foreign nationals and was a reminder that terrorists and their sympathizers are capable of attacking targets where US citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit.

Nine people were killed and 57 injured, including foreign nationals, when a bomb ripped through the popular German Bakery.

The US embassy asked its citizens to always practice good security, maintaining a heightened situational awareness and a low profile”.

The British Foreign Office updated its travel advice within a few hours of the Pune blast, asking its nationals to remain vigilant.

Stating that there was high general threat from terrorism in India, it pointed out that recent attacks have targetted public places frequented by Westerners and expatriates.