3 Arrested in Sri Lanka Over Possible Threats Against Israeli Tourists
The police in Sri Lanka have arrested three people over possible threats against tourists, specifically targeting visitors from Israel, Sri Lankan officials said on Thursday.
The people arrested, all Sri Lankan nationals, were being questioned, Vijitha Herath, a spokesman for the government, said at a news conference. “Further action will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing investigations,” he added.
The arrests came a day after both the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka and Israel’s National Security Council warned their citizens to avoid Arugam Bay, a popular surf destination.
The U.S. Embassy said it had “received credible information warning of an attack targeting popular tourist locations in the Arugam Bay area. Due to the serious risk posed by this threat, the Embassy imposed a travel restriction on Embassy personnel for Arugam Bay effective immediately and until further notice.”
Israel’s National Security Council told its citizens to “immediately leave Arugam Bay and the south and west coastal areas of Sri Lanka.” Israel also warned people to avoid public displays of anything that could be identified as Israeli, including clothing with Hebrew writing or religious symbols, and to avoid gathering in groups.
Britain also updated its travel advisory for Sri Lanka, citing a heightened terrorist threat. “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals such as hotels, tourist sites and places of worship,” the travel advice stated.
The police in Sri Lanka had already increased security measures in Colombo, the capital, as well as in Ella and Weligama, popular destinations for Israeli tourists, a police spokesman said during an earlier news conference. One of the reasons for the heightened security, he added, was that some tourists had set up temporary prayer halls because of a Jewish holiday.
Pamodi Waravita contributed reporting from Sri Lanka.
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