FRANCE HAS ADVISED TOURISTS headed for the United Kingdom to show “extreme vigilance” when visiting popular tourist sites or taking public transport, describing the risk of a major terrorist attack as “highly probable”.

The advice, issued by the country’s foreign ministry, was made on consultation with the UK government, which itself had told British tourists to France and Germany that there was a ‘high’ risk of an attack.

The British authorities consider that the terror threat level is very high in the United Kingdom and that the risk of an attack is highly likely.

It is recommended to show extreme vigilance on public transport and at the most-visited tourist sites.

France did not issue any warning about travel to Germany, however, sparking suggestions that the measure may be a tit-for-tat response to the British guideline.

The United States last week told tourists visiting Europe to be similarly vigilant. Sweden and Japan have issued similar advice.

The global clampdown follows reports last week that security forces had foiled a large planned attack on a number of European cities, including London, Paris and Berlin, being organised by a group alleged to Al Qaeda.

Five German nationals were killed in a drone bombing in Pakistan, adding to the fears, while France yesterday arrested 11 suspected extremists in raids across the south of the country.