Tourism figures in the UK are likely to suffer after the latest terror warning issued by France to its citizens. The French government has posted on its defence ministry website that an attack within Britain is highly likely. The French authorities are warning anyone travelling to the UK to be extra vigilant when travelling on public transport or to popular tourist attractions.

Security forces in France yesterday apprehended 11 people they suspect of being Islamic extremists in a number of raids in the south of the country. However, the French authorities have downplayed any link with the current terrorist threat.

The UK has already issued warnings to its nationals saying there is a high threat of terrorism in Germany and France. The US has warned people to stay away from any high-profile tourists sites in Europe.

Brice Hortefeux, the French minister for the interior, said he admitted that Europe was currently under threat from terrorists, but added he did not want to underestimate of overestimate that threat. Thomas de Maiziere, Germany’s interior minister, said that although Germany was an obvious target for terrorists, he had seen no proof that this was the case right now and no reason why Germany should heighten the level of alert it is currently at.

Speculation that Germany was a target came after US interrogators apparently extracted information from a German militant they apprehended in Kabul. Berlin is currently being dismissive of this particular intelligence and says it is still waiting to see some concrete proof that the country is under threat.