Cruise ship at Haifa Port
Photo: Doron Golan
Israel fears terror attack at sea
Israeli officials say global jihad terrorists planning attack on Israeli cruise ship sailing in Mediterranean
Israeli officials fear that terror groups are planning attacks against Israeli holidaymakers abroad, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday.
An Israeli official told the newspaper that security officials believe terror groups plan to use a boat laden with explosives to sink an Israeli cruise ship in the Mediterranean.
"We have warning about terror plans to carry out attacks abroad," the official said. "One scenario is an attack using a ship or a boat carrying explosives."
'Ships attractive target'
The official said that security would be boosted onboard Israeli cruise ships whose sailing lines would be altered.
"There are various scenarios: booby-trapped boats, using boats to fire explosives at passenger ships and more. Over Sukkot many Israelis are leaving for cruises from Haifa and Ashdod and we have to ensure that these ships are well protected," the official added.
But officials at the counter-terrorism bureau said that global jihad terrorists were always planning attacks against Israelis abroad.
"The intentions of members of the global jihad to attacks Israeli ships are well known. Over the last two years there were two attempts to target Israeli ships in Turkey. Al-Qaeda there has them in sights because they are packed with hundreds of Israeli tourists and are therefore an attractive target to attack," the officials said.
Itamar Eichner contributed to this report
