Israel warns of Prague al Qaeda threat

Swiss Info ^ | December 8 2002 | Reuters

[knighthawk]

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has received intelligence warning of plans by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network to attack Jews and Israelis in Prague, an Israeli security source has said.

Israel named al Qaeda as the prime suspect in a suicide bombing at a hotel in Kenya on November 28 that killed 13 Kenyans and three Israelis and a failed attempt to shoot down with missiles an Israeli airliner taking off nearby.

"A specific warning was received recently about plans to attack Jews and Israelis in Prague," the security source said on Sunday, without giving details.

The capital of the Czech Republic is a popular destination for Israelis. Its centuries-old Jewish quarter attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and Jewish pilgrims each year.

The source said Israel has received information from several foreign intelligence agencies warning of al Qaeda plans to target Israelis overseas.

Following the Mombasa attacks, Israel's Foreign Ministry issued travel advisories warning of potential danger to Israelis in Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Kenya and certain areas of Thailand.

No Israeli travel advisory has been issued for the Czech Republic, the ministry said.

Czech police spokeswoman Blanka Kosinova said Israel had not officially informed Czech authorities about the possibility of an al Qaeda attack in Prague.

"No specific extra security measures have been taken. Security remains at the same level as it was before," Kosinova said.

The Czech Republic stepped up security throughout the country following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington. The United States blamed al Qaeda, a multinational Islamic fundamentalist network, for the attacks.

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Sparta]

Funny how Mossad is able to get better intel than the CIA with a much lower budget.

[syriacus]

Now that other nations are helping handle al Qaeda threats, the US might have a slight freeing up of resources. Maybe we can deal with both Homeland Security and Iraq.

[2right]

Maybe their intel agents are less inclined to be PC than ours are. Right or left on the polictical spectrum they recognize the threat that Islamists pose to their country.