UAE | General
Chat between drunk men sparked terror warning
A personal conversation between two drunk men in a hotel bar led the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi to issue the recent terror attack warning, Gulf News has learnt.
- By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:08 June 20, 2008
Dubai: A personal conversation between two drunk men in a hotel bar led the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi to issue the recent terror attack warning, Gulf News has learnt.
The embassy on June 14 posted a warning on its website against a terror attack in the UAE.
A diplomatic source said the warning was issued based on a personal conversation between the two Arab men in the Hemingway bar in the Hiltonia Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The bar is frequented by hundreds of Britons and Americans.
One drunk man told the other in jest: "If someone wants to scare all these people and make them run away, just say there is a bomb. A belt bomb will kill hundreds of them."
The source said it is believed that Britons sitting near the men overheard the conversation and thought it was serious.
They reported the matter to their embassy who immediately issued the terror alert. The travel advisory said: "The attacks could be indiscriminate and could happen at any time, including in places frequented by expats ... You should maintain a high level of security awareness."
Share this article
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Festival expected to galvanise UAE's Pakistani community
- Free SMS offer for paid parking in Dubai
- UAE visitor admits to possessing fake notes
- Men get bail in Dubai due to lack of translator
- Security trial in UAE adjourned until December
- Colombia seeks stronger ties with UAE
- Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides glimpse of Indian culture
- Conference on combatting crime through sports begins
- Duo develop low energy desalting process
- Passer-by foils Dh2.5m robbery bid in Dubai
- Sharjah book fair to focus on innovative publishers
- UAE official urges corporate support for diabetes control initiatives
- Brothers deny vandalising plaintiff's car
- Over 6,000 Haj pilgrims to get vaccines
- Abu Dhabi residential city on track
Community Reports
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
-
Community report: Doing their bit for poor children
A group of students takes concrete action to raise funds for Dubai Cares
