Foreign Office new travel warnings for tourists going to Spain, Italy and Greece

The Foreign Office has issued fresh travel warnings for UK tourists planning to visit Greece, Italy, and Spain. The alerts for these popular European holiday destinations come as temperatures soar due to a heatwave currently baking the countries.

In Greece, the Foreign Office has warned of potential terror plots, urging tourists to be vigilant about threats “involving explosives and automatic weapons against Greek institutions, shopping malls, banks, media offices, diplomatic premises and the police”.

Officials have highlighted an increased risk of protests, particularly in central Athens. They also cautioned that terrorists are “likely to try and carry out attacks in Spain”, with the global threat level for a terrorist attack remaining high.

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“Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals,” warns the UK government website.

Holidaymakers are advised to “Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.”, reports Birmingham Live.

The Foreign Office added: “Demonstrations, political gatherings or marches can take place” in the country “with little or no warning, particularly in cities”, and recommended visitors heed the advice of police and local authorities.

The warning further stated: “While most demonstrations are peaceful, there is a risk of unrest or violence. If you’re near areas where demonstrations are taking place, be aware of what is happening around you and move away if there are signs of disorder.”

The Foreign Office has issued a warning about ‘highway pirates’ who target foreign-registered and hire cars, particularly those towing caravans. “‘Highway pirates’ target foreign-registered and hire cars, especially those towing caravans. They may flag you down, claiming there is something wrong with your car or that you have damaged theirs,” it cautioned.

“If you decide to stop to check the condition of a vehicle, stop in a public area with lights, such as a service station. Be wary of anyone offering help.”

In its travel advice for Italy, the Foreign Office also warned about thieves targeting coastal areas, towns, and motorway service stations. “Avoid leaving luggage in your vehicle even out of sight in the boot for any length of time. Thieves may use a variety of methods to distract you or encourage you to stop your car, including asking for help or directions or pointing out a fictional fault with your car,” the advisory added.

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