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Sri Lankan police arrest terror suspect after Israel warns citizens

Sri Lankan police arrest terror suspect after Israel warns citizens
Posted on | Posted on angela

Sri Lankan police arrested two suspects on Thursday on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack on tourist attractions frequented by Israeli citizens in the Arugam Bay area, BBC News reported.

A day earlier, Israeli citizens were warned by Israel's National Security Council to immediately leave some tourist areas in southern Sri Lanka due to the threat of a possible terrorist attack.

Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya reported that intelligence agencies warned Sri Lankan authorities on October 7 of plans to attack foreign nations.

Attack on Israeli nationals

Police media spokesman DIG Nihal Talduwa said during a press conference that there was a building in the Arugam Bay area where Israeli citizens were staying that was likely the target of an attack.

A tourist rests on a beach near hotels in a tourist area in Bentota, Sri Lanka, May 2, 2019. Picture taken May 2, 2019. (Credit: REUTERS/DINUKA LIYANAWATTE)

“In the Arugambe area there is a building built by the Israelis. A hall-like place. In general, the Arugambe and Pothuvil areas have attracted the attention of Israelis because they have a strong interest in surfing,” said Talduwa. “In the last few days we have received information that there may be danger here for the Israelis.” From this Roadblocks have recently been set up in the area and people and vehicles checked as per the instructions of the Senior DIG in charge of Eastern Province.

“Today, the police, the police special task force, the army and navy and especially the intelligence agencies are deployed in the areas where security is required and security has been strengthened. Apart from this area, security has been increased.” In other areas, we have informed the police to maintain a high level of security for all tourists.

Pothuvil Divisional Secretariat administrative officer MMM Zuhair told the BBC that Israelis were working in several hotels in the area and some had bought a building and converted it into a synagogue. Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror reported that the synagogue was a Chabad house.

In the first eight months of this year, 1.5 million tourists arrived in Sri Lanka, including a total of 20,515 from Israel, government data showed.

Local community leaders blame the Israelis for not honoring their visas. SJB candidate for Matara District, Rehan Jayawickreme, complained to the Daily Mirror: “Due to the illegal stay of these Israeli nationals here, Sri Lanka will soon become a battlefield like anywhere else.”

After the threat of terrorism on tourist beaches, Israelis in Sri Lanka called for immediate evacuation

Israel's National Security Council on Wednesday urged Israelis to immediately leave some tourist areas in southern Sri Lanka because of the threat of a possible terrorist attack.

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The agency said the warning covered the Arugam Bay area and beaches in southern and western Sri Lanka and came from “recent information about a terrorist threat focused on tourist areas and beaches.”

The Security Council did not specify the exact nature of the threat and urged Israelis in the rest of Sri Lanka to be cautious and not to hold large gatherings in public areas.

The US Embassy in Sri Lanka also issued a security alert saying it had received “credible information of an attack on popular tourist sites in the Arugam Bay area.”

Attacks on Israeli nationals outside Israel

Since the October 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel in 2023, terrorist groups have repeatedly targeted Israeli and Jewish communities inside and outside Israel.

In May, police foiled an IS-inspired attack on British Jewry.

Just last month, a Pakistani citizen was arrested for attempting to travel to New York to carry out an attack on Jews on the anniversary of the Hamas attacks.

In August, police in Argentina arrested seven suspects accused of plotting to attack Jewish targets.



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