Imminent threat of terror attacks across India: Israel

JERUSALEM: Israel has warned that a Pakistan-based terror outfit affiliated to al-Qaida, which carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks, is planning to carry out a string of terror attacks across India.

Israel's counter-terrorism bureau at the National Security Council (NSC) in a travel warning for Israeli tourists in India rated the threat as "imminent and concrete", putting special emphasis on the Jammu and Kashmir region.

"The terrorist group that carried out the serious Mumbai attack in India is planning to carry out a number of attacks across India, particularly against concentrations of Western or Israeli tourists," warned a statement from the counterterrorism unit.

The bureau has recommended Israelis currently in India to avoid crowded areas, especially tourist areas, which have no apparent armed security.



In view of potential terror attacks across the entire country, Israeli travellers have been advised to "take precautions and remain alert".

The warning comes at a time when the Chabad houses across India are planning numerous events for the celebration of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Last year's attacks in Mumbai had targeted a Chabad house, among several other targets, where six Israelis were killed.

India blames Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba for the November attacks in which 10 gunmen killed over 180 people in a three-day rampage through Mumbai.