'This is a more than credible threat. This is an active plot'
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Exterior of Istanbul’s Neve Shalom Synagogue in Galata |
By Times of Israel Staff
Intelligence source cited by Sky News says concrete threat to Istanbul synagogue and community center, after Turkey and Israel both warn of increased danger for Jews and Israelis.
Islamic State terrorists are planning an imminent attack on Jewish kindergartens, schools and youth centers in Turkey, according to a report by Britain-based Sky News Monday.
According to Sky News, citing an "intelligence source", terrorists are plotting to attack a synagogue which also doubles as a school and community center in the Beyoglu neighborhood of Istanbul.
The source said the threat was imminent and could happen at any moment.
“This is a more than credible threat. This is an active plot,” the source said. “We don’t know when it’s scheduled for. It could be in the next 24 hours or next few days.”
Israeli officials followed up that warning Monday by raising the terror risk in Turkey from level 3 (basic concrete threat) to level 2 (high concrete threat).
The Prime Minister’s Office cited a March 19 attack in central Istanbul in which three Israelis were killed and several others wounded.
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“This is a more than credible threat. This is an active plot,” the source said. “We don’t know when it’s scheduled for. It could be in the next 24 hours or next few days.”
The report was likely referring to the Neve Shalom synagogue, Istanbul’s largest, serving many of the country’s estimated 17,000 Jews.
The synagogue has been the site of two previous deadly attacks: a 1986 shooting and a 2003 bombing.
The source said the intelligence was related to the capture of a group of Islamic State operatives, including a suicide bomber, in Gaziantep, in southern Turkey, last week, and added that security was being beefed up along with increased anti-terror measures.
On Saturday, Turkish police warned of possible Islamic State attacks against Christians and Jews over the weekend.
The police issued a nationwide alert warning of possible attacks targeting churches during Easter on Sunday, as well as synagogues, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
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Injured people get assistance on the scene of an explosionon
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Israeli officials followed up that warning Monday by raising the terror risk in Turkey from level 3 (basic concrete threat) to level 2 (high concrete threat).
The Prime Minister’s Office cited a March 19 attack in central Istanbul in which three Israelis were killed and several others wounded.
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