ITALY
A surge in crime in Naples has prompted national and local security officials to agree to increase police patrols to combat both the Camorra crime syndicate and robbers in areas popular with tourists. Police patrols will increase by 50 percent, more officers will be dispatched on motorcycles to avoid getting stuck in traffic, and a new special squad of 150 officers will patrol tourist areas. Authorities considered sending in the army to guard buildings and officials’ residences to free up police to combat crime, but that option has been deferred. Soldiers were sent to Palermo in 1992 on a similar mission and remained for six years.
ST. MAARTEN
The case of a brutal tire-iron attack on two CBS News employees in Dutch St. Maarten April 6 came to a close Nov. 2 when a judge convicted four French nationals and sentenced one to six years, two to three years, and one to six months in prison. Three are from the French half of the island–St. Martin–and one from the neighboring island of Guadeloupe. The two victims, one of whom suffered brain damage but has made a full recovery, assert that they were attacked because they are gay. They were in St. Maarten on vacation, had stopped at a tourist bar near the airport called Bamboo Bernie’s, and were harassed there by the suspects, then were followed when they left and mugged.
ETHIOPIA AND KENYA
The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa reported Nov. 1 that it has received credible reports of terrorist threats by extremists in Somalia to carry out suicide bombings at prominent landmarks in Ethiopia and Kenya. The general threats also extend to other countries in the region.
SPAIN
National and local authorities have formed a new tourist police unit composed of the National Police, Madrid Municipal Police and Guardia Civil to provide assistance to tourists in Madrid. The new unit will offer routine tourist information and assist crime victims through such actions as offering psychological support, help with filling out police reports or canceling credit cards, and contacting family members or consular officials. Translation services are already in place for English and many other languages. The tourist police unit can be reached through the emergency telephone number 112.
UKRAINE
The U.S. Embassy in Kiev issued an announcement Nov. 3 reminding Americans that racially motivated attacks by skinheads have increased and “have occurred without provocation in prominent areas of downtown Kiev that are commonly frequented by tourists.” The majority of victims have been of Asian, African or other non-European descent, but all visitors should be vigilant. Harassment is also common, with both civilians and police stopping Asians and Africans on the street for no legitimate purpose.
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Compiled from various news services and travel sources. For the latest on world conditions, check the State Department’s automated service at 888-407-4747; fax 202-647-3000; travel.state.gov.
