The US embassy has advised its staff to “prohibit” from visiting Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel due to possible attack, as Pakistan battles with the recent wave of terrorism.

“The US government is aware of information that unknown individuals are possibly plotting to attack Americans at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad sometime during the holidays,” it said in its advisory on Sunday that was effective immediately.

The Marriott Hotel, which is located in a high security zone, is 27 kilometres away from I-10/4 area of the federal capital where a suicide car bombing in Islamabad killed a policeman and injured 10 others on Friday. The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban, which called off a stop-start ceasefire with the government in November, claimed the responsibility for the attack.

The banned outfit had ordered fighters to stage attacks across the country after ending the truce.

Furthermore, the embassy has urged all mission personnel to refrain from non-essential, unofficial travel in Islamabad throughout the holiday season as Islamabad has been placed on a ‘red alert’ citing security concerns while banning all public gatherings.

It advised staff to take the following actions:

• Exercise vigilance at events, places of worship, and avoid locations with large crowds.
• Review your personal security plans.
• Carry identification and follow requests from law enforcement.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Monitor local media for updates.

The advisory was second after December 23 when it advised the staff to keep vigilance in the wake of the attack in the federal capital.

The Islamabad police raised security to high alert in the capital and increased checking at entry and exit points of the Red Zone, which is at five minutes drive from the premier hotel and home to Parliament, President’s House, Supreme Court, and Prime Minister’s Office.

It urged the people to cooperate with inspections and keep necessary identification documents with them while traveling.

At least 40 people were killed and more than 250 injured when an explosive-laden truck rammed into the front gate of the hotel on September 21, 2008.