Authorities place five southern states on high alert

Indian authorities placed five southern states -- Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerela, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry -- on high alert based on intelligence reports indicating that terrorist strikes are planned across southern India. The alert indicated that youths affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba have entered the states with the intent of carrying out attacks on "soft targets." Police officers in major cities in these states -- including Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru -- have increased security patrols in public areas (markets, shopping malls and cinemas) and have asked residents to be on the lookout for possible suspects.