The US Consulate in the Sandton area of Johannesburg is closed on September 22, 2009 after the United States closed all its government facilities in South Africa at least for one day, due to concerns raised by the regional US security office. US Embassy spokeswoman Sharon Hudson-Dean refused to discuss details of the information received from the security office. On August 7, 1998, suicide bombers targeted the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, in one of the most devastating attacks carried out by Al-Qaeda prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Getty Images logo Getty Images 2 months ago

The US Consulate in the Sandton area of Johannesburg is closed on September 22, 2009 after the United States closed all its government facilities in South Africa at least for one day, due to concerns raised by the regional US security office. US Embassy spokeswoman Sharon Hudson-Dean refused to discuss details of the information received from the security office. On August 7, 1998, suicide bombers targeted the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, in one of the most devastating attacks carried out by Al-Qaeda prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks.

More Photos of Johannesburg

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  1. RNPS IMAGES OF THE YEAR 2009 - Brazil's Julio Cesar eyes the ball during the Confederations Cup semi-final soccer match against South Africa at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg June 25, 2009.
  2. JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 26: Danny Jordaan CEO of the 2010 Local Organising Committee delivers a speech during the launch of the National Greening 2010 Framework ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Safa House on November 26, 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The initiative aims to reduce any potential negative environmental impact resulting from the major sporting event.
  3. JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 20: England coach Andy Flower talks to the umpires and groundsman after heavy overnight rain during the 1st One Day International match between South Africa and England at the Wanderers on November 20, 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
  4. JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 18: Matt Prior (L) and Kevin Pietersen of England stroke a lion cub during a team visit to the Johannesburg Lion Park on November 18, 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
  5. JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 16: Andy Flower the England coach talks to the press at a press conference at the Sandton Sun Hotel on November 16, 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
  6. JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 13: Graeme Smith of South Africa hits out during the Twenty20 International match between South Africa and England at the Wanderers on November 13, 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. Siti Rahma, wife of slain regional al-Qaida commander Noordin Top, in a black veil, is seen in Pontian, southern Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Tearful relatives of slain regional al-Qaida commander Noordin Top buried him in a traditional Muslim funeral at his boyhood village Friday, two weeks after Indonesian security forces killed him in a shootout.
  2. Relatives and villagers carry the coffin of slain regional al-Qaida commander Noordin Top for a burial at a cemetery in Pontian, southern Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Tearful relatives of slain regional al-Qaida commander Noordin Top buried him in a traditional Muslim funeral at his boyhood village Friday, two weeks after Indonesian security forces killed him in a shootout.
  3. J. Michael Dowling, lawyer for suspected al-Qaida terrorist Najibullah Zazi, gestures during a press briefing after his client's appearance in Brooklyn Federal Court, New York, Tuesday Sept. 29, 2009.
  4. In this courtroom sketch of suspected al-Qaida terrorist Najibullah Zazi is shown as he appears in Brooklyn Federal Court, New York, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009.
  5. J. Michael Dowling, lawyer for suspected al-Qaida terrorist Najibullah Zazi, speaks during a a press briefing after his client's appearance in Brooklyn Federal Court, New York, Tuesday Sept. 29, 2009.
  6. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden addresses a news conference in Afghanistan in this May 26, 1998 file photo. Bin Laden urged European nations in an new audio tape aired on September 25, 2009 to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan.
  7. Al-Qaida's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, speaks during a new 106-minute long video released Tuesday Sept. 22, 2009 predicting President Barack Obama's downfall at the hands of the Muslim world."America has come in a new, hypocritical face. Smiling at us, but stabbing us with the same dagger that Bush used," said Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri in the message.
  8. American-born al Qaeda militant Adam Gadahn appears in a still image from a video released September 22, 2009 by al-Qaeda's as-Sahab entitled, "The West ... and the Dark Tunnel" in this handout image provided by IntelCenter.
  9. Al Qaeda's number two Ayman al-Zawahri appears in a still image from a video released September 22, 2009 by al-Qaeda's as-Sahab entitled, "The West ... and the Dark Tunnel" in this handout image provided by IntelCenter.
  10. A frame grab taken from a suspected al Qaeda video published on the internet September 20, 2009 and released by the U.S. group IntelCenter, shows a militant identified as Bekkay Harrach alias Abu Talha giving a statement entitled, "O Allah, I Love You" in German. Militant Islamist group al Qaeda threatened Germany with attacks for the second time this weekend in an online video criticising the country for its deployment of troops in Afghanistan, authorities said on Sunday. The interior ministry identified al Qaeda's messenger in the latest video as Harrach, a German-Moroccan who also appeared in a separate clip on Friday warning Germany faced a "rude awakening" if it did not end its "war" in Afghanistan.
  11. A frame grab taken from a suspected al Qaeda video published on the internet September 18, 2009, shows an unidentified militant speaking in German. Germany has boosted security at airports and train stations because of a heightened risk of attack linked to a federal election on September 27the German Interior Ministry said on Friday. According to security officials a suspected new al Qaeda video had played a role in raising the alert. German television channel ARD said the video featured a militant threatening the country for its presence in Afghanistan as part of a NATO force. According to ARD, the militant warned Germans that if they voted to "extend the war" they would seal their own fate and suffer a nasty shock after the election.
  12. Relatives of jailed suspected members of Al-Qaeda-inspired group Fatah al-Islam leave the Rumieh prison, northeast of Beirut, after visiting them on September 16, 2009. Nearly 160 Islamist inmates went on hunger strike on September 16 at Lebanon's largest prison Rumieh, demanding better conditions, a high-ranking security official told.
  13. South Korean protester burns a portrait of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden during a rally against terrorism a day before the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009.
  14. Mohammad Ahmed, the son of detained al-Qaida suspect Aafia Siddiqui take part in a demonstration arranged by Human Rights Network demanding to release of Siddiqui, who was detained in Afghanistan on last year, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. The Pakistani woman is facing charges that she tried to kill U.S. agents and military officers.
  15. Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (R) bids farewell to his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani after their meeting at 10 Downing Street in central London, December 3, 2009. Gilani said on Thursday he did not think al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was hiding in his country.
  16. Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (R) bids farewell to his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani after their meeting at 10 Downing Street in central London December 3, 2009. Gilani said on Thursday he did not think al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was hiding in his country.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Grant Schubert from Australia lunges for the ball during a match against Germany at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. Germany won 3-1.
  2. German players celebrate after scoring against Australia during their match at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. Germany won 3-1.
  3. Austrian President Heinz Fischer (C) talks in front of a painting of former Austrian Empress Maria Theresia as he receives legendary mountaineer Apa Sherpa (L), who has reached the top of Mount Everest 19 times, and conservation activist Dawa Steven Sherpa in his office in the historic Hofburg Palace in Vienna December 3, 2009. The Sherpas are touring ten European countries campaigning for climate protection.
  4. A woman carries a baby outside her tent at Ahad al-Masahara refugee camp in Jizan, near the border with Yemen November 14, 2009. Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes near the Yemeni border since Saudi Arabia launched a military offensive last month against Yemeni Shi'ite Muslim rebels, known as Houthis, after they seized some Saudi territory. More than 200 Saudi villages in the border area have been evacuated, officials say. Authorities have erected more than 700 tents, each housing up to 12 people and equipped with air conditioning and electricity in Ahad al-Masahara to shelter the displaced people. Picture taken November 14, 2009.
  5. Austrian President Heinz Fischer (L) receives legendary mountaineer Apa Sherpa (C), who has reached the top of Mount Everest 19 times, and conservation activist Dawa Steven Sherpa in his office in the historic Hofburg Palace in Vienna December 3, 2009. The Sherpas are touring ten European countries campaigning for climate protection.
  6. Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper inspects honour guards during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing December 3, 2009.
  7. Maximilian Muller, left, of Germany and Jamie Dwyer of Australia in action during their game at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. Germany won the game 3-1.
  8. Graeme Begbie from Australia and Philip White from Germany in action during their match at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. Germany won 3-1.
  9. A boy holding an empty bucket participates along with others in a protest against water shortage in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. Protestors from several parts of the city and its suburbs gathered to protest the 15 percent cut in water supply introduced by the municipal corporation to deal with water shortage due to a scanty monsoon season, according to a news agency.
  10. In this Oct. 28, 2009 photo, Sony Corporation Chief Executive Officer and President Howard Stringer is greeted by Japanese crowd at Japan premiere of "Michael Jackson's This is it" in Tokyo, Japan. Michael Jackson videos or the next Spider-Man movie won't be among the titles that Sony Corp. releases in 3-D as it gears up to boost TV sales with that technology, Stringer said Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009.
  11. WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 03: Shoaib Malik of Pakistan walks from the field after being caught out by Daniel vettori captain of the Blackcaps during day one of the Second Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Basin Reserve on December 3, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand.
  12. BEIJING - DECEMBER 03: Fifty-six columns erected in the Tian'anmen Square during this year's celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China are removed from the Tian'anmen Square on December 3, 2009 in Beijing, China. The columns, known as the Pillars of Harmony, represented the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups in China.
  13. BEIJING - DECEMBER 03: Fifty-six columns erected in the Tian'anmen Square during this year's celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China are removed from the Tian'anmen Square on December 3, 2009 in Beijing, China. The columns, known as the Pillars of Harmony, represented the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups in China.
  14. BEIJING - DECEMBER 03: Fifty-six columns erected in the Tian'anmen Square during this year's celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China are removed from the Tian'anmen Square on December 3, 2009 in Beijing, China. The columns, known as the Pillars of Harmony, represented the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups in China.
  15. BEIJING - DECEMBER 03: Fifty-six columns erected in the Tian'anmen Square during this year's celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China are removed from the Tian'anmen Square on December 3, 2009 in Beijing, China. The columns, known as the Pillars of Harmony, represented the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups in China.
  16. BEIJING - DECEMBER 03: Fifty-six columns erected in the Tian'anmen Square during this year's celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China are removed from the Tian'anmen Square on December 3, 2009 in Beijing, China. The columns, known as the Pillars of Harmony, represented the 56 officially recognised ethnic groups in China.