Amid online “chatter” about terror threats, US diplomatic posts in 19 cities in the Muslim world will be closed at least through the end of this week, the State Department said.

US diplomatic posts in 19 cities in the Muslim world will be closed at least until the end of this week, amid online “chatter” about terror threats.

The al Qaeda threat that closed US embassies in the Middle East is the most serious in years and the “chatter” among suspected terrorists is reminiscent of what preceded the Sept 11 attacks, a US lawmaker who is briefed on intelligence said.