January 7, 2012 -- Updated 1323 GMT (2123 HKT) Kenyan security search for missing aid workers at a village near Kenya's border town with Somalia on October 15. "We believe that terrorists may be in the final stages of planning attacks," U.K. says It says the attacks may target places where expatriates gather The U.S. also issued a terror alert last autumn Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- British officials Saturday warned of terror threats in Kenya as the east African nation battles Islamist militants in neighboring Somalia. Kenyan authorities have alerted the public to a heightened threat from terrorist attacks in Nairobi. We believe that terrorists may be in the final stages of planning attacks," the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement. It said the attacks may target places where expatriates gather such as hotels, shopping centers and beaches. A Kenyan government spokesman said the threats are not new. This threat has been ongoing for maybe the last two weeks, and because of the holiday season we want to make sure people are extra aware. We suspect that Al-Shabaab may be planning to carry out an attack," Alfred Mutua said. The U.K. statement did not offer details on who might carry out the attacks, but urged British nationals to be vigilant in public places. U.S. Embassy officials in the nation also issued a terror alert in October and November, saying they have credible information of an imminent terror attack. The U.S. warning came after Kenya sent troops across the border into Somalia to pursue Islamist Al-Shabaab militants. The terror group has threatened Kenya with retaliatory attacks, saying it considers the forces' incursion an affront to Somalia's sovereignty. Kenya blamed abductions of tourists and aid workers last year on the terror group. CNN's Per Nyberg contributed to this report