In its latest security report issued yesterday, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) noted that four small explosions have taken place in public areas of Port-of-Spain since July with Friday’s incident in St James being the most recent in which ten people were injured. The FCO said the police are investigating all four incidents and gave no advice to British citizens against coming to TT. The FCO advised British nationals that while most visits to TT are trouble-free, they should be aware of increasing levels of violent crimes, especially shootings and kidnappings.

On the issue of kidnappings in TT, the FCO said these have been occurring since mid-2002 and while they do not in general target foreigners, the situation is deteriorating and British nationals need to be aware of the situation.

The FCO reiterated its advice to British citizens to be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets (including places frequented by foreigners) and that there is no evidence of a terrorist presence in TT notwithstanding the presence of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen and its attempted coup against the Government on July 27, 1990. The US State Department meanwhile also advised American citizens of Friday night’s bombing in St James but had not advised its citizens against coming to TT. Haiti and Colombia are the only nations within the Western Hemisphere for which the US government has issued those types of advisories.

The State Department advised American citizens travelling to or residing in TT to avoid large crowds and demonstrations. The State Department also said the recent bombings have occurred on the tenth or 11th of three consecutive months and Americans living in or visiting Port-of-Spain are advised to exercise extreme caution when in the Downtown area, particularly on or around those dates. The State Department added that: "While there is no evidence that Americans or other foreigners have been specifically targeted as victims of the explosion or other violent crimes, travellers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks that could target civilians, including places frequented by foreigners."

"The Australian Foreign Affairs Ministry joined the US and British governments in saying that Friday’s bombing in St James, like the other three incidents before it, has not compromised TT’s national security and is not advising Australians against coming to TT. However, it is reminding them to exercise sensible precautions where crime is concerned in all foreign jurisdictions which they visit.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) meanwhile reaffirmed its longstanding position that there is no evidence of a terrorist presence in TT and this country remains an "excellent investment site for international businesses."