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Won't dock in Turkey: cruise ship

Terror threat at sea

Four Israeli cruise ships heading to Turkey diverted to Greece, Cyprus due to concrete terror warnings; about 3,500 people reportedly on board ships

TEL AVIVTerror at sea? Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit instructed four Israeli ships en route to Turkey and carrying about 3,500 Israelis to change course Friday morning as a result of a concrete terror threat. 

 

As a result of the stern warning, related to possible plots by international Islamic terrorists, the ships were instructed to head for ports in Greece and Cyprus.

 

Transportation Ministry officials refused to reveal the source of the warnings, but noted the information was a result of "Israeli-Turkish cooperation."

 

As a result of the terror warnings, Minister Sheetrit ordered increased alertness at all ports where Israeli ships are anchored.

 

Global Jihad 

  

Meanwhile, a security source told Ynet: "The threat in Turkey stems from global Jihad elements…when ships carrying more than 3,000 people are diverted, this is done only if there's a serious threat."

 

"A concrete threat exists, but the picture is not yet completely clear," the source added. "Yet with the information we have now, there was justification to keep the Israeli ships away."

 

Notably, terrorists arrested in Turkey last year in the wake of suicide attacks in Istanbul revealed that al-Qaeda was planning to target an Israeli cruise ship in the country.

 

The terror cell, which targeted synagogues and the British consulate in Istanbul, originally intended to hit an Israeli ship, but the plans were averted after the ship changed course and docked at another port. One of the Turkish terrorists told police in Turkey the cell decide to strike the British consulate at the last moment, after the Israeli ship was diverted.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.05.05, 14:47
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