Israelis warned against travel to India

Harinder Mishra

Jerusalem, Oct 16 (PTI) Israel has warned its nationals
against travelling to India saying there was a "concrete"
threat of terror attacks on Chabad centres and synagogues in
the country.

Its Counter-Terrorism Bureau (CTB) said the threat of
possible attacks against Israeli nationals has become
"significantly more severe" since a stark travel advisory was
issued last month.

It said there was a "concrete" threat of attacks on
Chabad centres and synagogues throughout India, including Goa,
as well as on sites frequented by Israelis and Westerners.

Israel's Channel 10 reported that the new warning was
based on fresh intelligence received by Israeli officials
indicating that a 'Global Jihad' group had teamed up with the
Pakistani terror cell responsible for the 2008 Mumbai massacre
and was planning an attack.

A Chabad house was one of the targets of the 2008 Mumbai
attacks.

The CTB strongly advised Israelis in India to avoid
places that are not visibly secured with armed guards.

The bureau also issued a separate advisory against
visiting India's northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir.

A similar warning issued in September said a Pakistani
terror organisation affiliated with al-Qaida, and responsible
for the attacks in Mumbai last November, was planning to carry
out a string of attacks throughout the Indian subcontinent.

That warning said all Westerners in India were under
threat of being targeted, adding Israelis and places where
they usually congregate in large numbers were in more serious
danger. PTI HM
ANU