A travel warning for its citizens travelling to India ahead of the New Year celebrations has been issued by Israel citing a “concrete basic threat.” It advised its people to avoid parties and gatherings especially in south-west part of the nation.
“We are warning Israeli tourists in India of the possibility of imminent terrorist attacks against western targets and tourists, particularly in the southwest of that country,” Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau said in a statement on Friday, released from the Prime Minister’s office.
“We ask to focus on events in the coming days related to the Christian New Year’s holiday, placing particular emphasis on beach parties and clubs, where there is larger concentration of tourists,” it said.
“Israeli tourists travelling in India have been asked to stay alert and to pay attention to local media reports and security agencies. Furthermore, families with relatives in India are asked to update them about the travel warning and recommendation,” the warning added further.
Security sources in India also said that the parties on New Year’s Eve on the beaches of Goa are popular among Israeli and other western tourists. Such crowds can be easy targets of certain hostile Islamic groups.
Previously, Israel had issued such warnings too, especially for Goa. But, this time the sources feel that all such places visited by huge tourists in southern and western parts of the country can be the target of a terror attack.
An Israeli Embassy spokesman in here confirmed the warning and said, “Israel has issued a travel advisory surrounding New Year’s Eve celebrations events in south-west India, with specific regard to beach parties, clubs and highly-populated tourist sites. Israeli tourists are advised to avoid such events and other densely-populated areas.”
Moreover, it also recommended avoiding markets, fiestas and jam-packed shopping zones.
In view of the Berlin terror attack on a Christmas market last week that killed 12 people, extra security arrangements have been made all around the world for New Year eve. However, the agency did not stated what prompted the warning.
