A meeting was held among members of the South African intelligence and its American counterparts hours before the US embassy issued a statement warning of a possible terror attack in South Africa.
According to reports from Insiders, the meeting comprised of SSA and CIA and members and the parties clashed over the lack of information the US was willing to provide about the possible event.
It was confirmed by the US intelligence officials that the target of the possible terrorist attack was the annual Johannesburg Pride march, but gave no further information to make this intelligence convincing.
Some ISIS-linked individuals who are living in the country were also mentioned and insiders told them they have those people under watch.
According to their laws, they also said they would issue a statement to protect their citizens from attending the gathering.”
The South African intelligence officials requested further details such as whether the attack would feature a shooter or a bombing but the American officials did not provide this information.
Following the US Embassy’s announcement, Sandton residents were left to speculate what the threat could entail — causing unnecessary panic.
President Cyril Ramaphosa slammed the US for not disclosing information to South Africa about the possible attack after it issued the alert.
“It was quite unfortunate that the US government issued that type of warning without having had a deep-dive type of discussion with us,” Ramaphosa said Thursday at a Pretoria briefing.
“It is unfortunate that another government should issue such a threat as to send panic among our people.”
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also issued a travel warning to its citizens following the US statement — further impacting travel in and out of the country.
Despite the US Embassy’s warning, no terror event occurred in Sandton yesterday.
The rumoured target, the Johannesburg Pride march, continued as previously planned.
“We have spent the last 24 hours assessing the situation, consulting with authorities, and managing the situation as a whole from a planning standpoint,” the organizers said in a statement on Thursday.
“Johannesburg Pride has not been directly threatened, nor have we received any communication from outside parties other than what the media assumed via the US Embassy’s website.”
“We are confident that Johannesburg Pride march and celebrations can go ahead as planned thanks to our team, private security, and the authorities.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa slammed the US for not disclosing information to South Africa about the possible attack after it issued the alert.
“It was quite unfortunate that the US government issued that type of warning without having had a deep-dive type of discussion with us,” Ramaphosa said Thursday at a Pretoria briefing.
“It is unfortunate that another government should issue such a threat as to send panic among our people.”
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also issued a travel warning to its citizens following the US statement — further impacting travel in and out of the country.
No terrorist attack
Despite the US Embassy’s warning, no terror event occurred in Sandton yesterday.
The rumored target, the Johannesburg Pride march, continued as previously planned.
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“We have spent the last 24 hours assessing the situation, consulting with authorities, and managing the situation as a whole from a planning standpoint,” the organizers said in a statement on Thursday.
“Johannesburg Pride has not been directly threatened, nor have we received any communication from outside parties other than what the media assumed via the US Embassy’s website.”
“We are confident that Johannesburg Pride march and celebrations can go ahead as planned thanks to our team, private security, and the authorities.”
Source: My Broadband
