A major terror threat has prompted the State Department to evacuate all non-emergency personnel from the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan, CNN first reported late Thursday night. Diplomats were moved to Islamabad, another hot bed of terror activity in the past, on an "ordered departure" from the State Department. The U.S. has also issued a travel warning.
Pakistani officials at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, D.C., told The Blaze Thursday night they do not have an official comment at this time.
"The presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens throughout Pakistan," a travel warning from the State Department said.
Pakistani policemen stand guard outside the US consulate during the protest of students of Jamaat-e-Islami party in Lahore on November 18, 2012. Pakistan on Friday condemned Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to stop the 'Israeli aggression'. Credit: AFP/Getty Images
A U.S. official also told the Associated Press that the departure has been ordered because of a threat specific to the Lahore mission. The official says the action is a precautionary measure and isn't related to the recent closures of several U.S. diplomatic posts in the Muslim world.
The U.S. official isn't authorized to discuss the order by name and requested anonymity.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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