Western embassies in Beijing issued warnings to their respective citizens on Thursday about possible security threats during the holiday period, prompting Beijing authorities to step up security in the Chinese capital.

The United States, British, and French embassies have alerted their nationals in Beijing about possible security threats and urged them to be vigilant while in the Chinese capital.

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Security has been tightened around a popular shopping and bar area in the Sanlitun in Beijing after the US Embassy received information of possible threats against foreigners on Christmas day.

A security alert posted on the US Embassy website said the US has received information that Westerners frequenting the popular Beijing bar and shopping area in Sanlitun could be targeted by violent groups.

The alert post was emailed by the US Embassy to American citizens in Beijing.

The British and the French embassies likewise issued a similar warning to their citizens in the Chinese capital.

Following the warnings, Beijing police have issued a 'yellow alert' and began conducting 24-hour security patrols in Sanlitun and other parts of the city.

The Sanlitun neighborhood area is frequented by foreign travelers as it is home to a number of foreign embassies and offices and also houses a large open air shopping center.

At night, the area is transformed into a nightlife district which is popular to foreigners and locals as well.

Western embassies in Beijing have urged their nationals to be vigilant and report any suspicion of violence that may arise while celebrating the holidays in Sanlitun.

The US did not specify the exact nature and origin of the threats and it remains unclear whether the heightened security alert in Beijing has something to do with the US warning posted on its website.

Reports indicate that there have been a number of violent incidents in Sanlitun and the police are rather anxious in conducting crowd control in the area.

Last year, a knife-wielding man stabbed a Frenchman and a Chinese woman in a Sanlitun bar killing the Chinese woman on the spot.

The police have stepped up its patrols not only in Sanlitun but of Shanghai as well after a deadly stampede killed 36 people during the New Year celebrations last year.

TagsPossible security threats in Beijing, Western embassies, US Embassy, French Embassy, British Embassy