Yesterday an email that appeared to originate from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing was doing the rounds:
The Embassy has learned that Chinese police advised hotels that Islamic extremist elements could be planning to attack four and five star hotels in China sometime over the course of the next week. Chinese authorities have assured the Embassy that they are taking appropriate security measures and investigating the possible threat thoroughly. American citizens visiting Chinese four and five star hotels should review their plans carefully, remain vigilant with regard to their personal security, and exercise caution. Reports should be made to local police if one notices unusual activities in or around these areas.
This morning the news comes from Jordan that the Grand Hyatt, Radisson SAS and Days Inn hotels in the capital Ammam were all hit by bomb blasts at 9pm local time. The death toll has been reported as 57 as of this morning (The Guardian: Explosions rock Jordan hotels).
Is there a connection?
UPDATE:
Shanghaiist had a post about this too: Terror in the Middle Kingdom?. In the comments section, Daniel Roy wrote:
And yet… A British colleague called the UK Consulate, only to be told that they contacted the police themselves, and nobody was aware of any terrorist threat against Shanghai hotels.
So it seems to be a Beijing thing.
UPDATE 2: From CNN:
Refuting the U.S. advisory on Thursday, China said in a statement faxed to CNN that “the recent mentioning of a so-called ‘future attack on four and five-star hotels in China’ is a sham fabricated by some foreign citizen.”
China provided no additional details and did not identify the “foreign citizen.”
Hmm.
UPDATE 3: Another email from the U.S. Embassy, dated November 10:
The Chinese Ministry of Public Security informed the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on November 10th that Chinese security authorities have determined that the source of a reported threat against four and five star hotels in China is not credible. The United States Government is not aware of any other information of any threat against hotels in China, including Hong Kong. Our warden message of November 9th on threats to hotels is therefore retracted.
UPDATE 4: FromXinhua:
Also on Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in Beijing that three Chinese nationals were killed and one wounded in the attacks. The four were members of a delegation from China’s University of National Defense visiting Amman.