Report: Islamic State Planning ‘Imminent’ Attack on Jewish Children in Turkey

Reuters
Reuters

JERUSALEM – Information obtained by intelligence officials and cited by Sky News indicates Islamic State terrorists are in the advanced stages of an active plot to murder Jewish children in Turkey, including with attacks on kindergartens, schools and youth centres.

Sky News further reported:

Information on what intelligence officials are describing as “an imminent” attack was obtained from six operatives from the “Caliphate” who were arrested in the southern city of Gaziantep over the last week.

The most likely target of an attack is Istanbul’s synagogue in Beyoglu which also has a community centre and a school attached to it.

One intelligence source told Sky News that “in light of these circumstances, extraordinary security measures are being taken above and beyond the high alert level already in place by the Turkish police, as well as vigilance within the Jewish community.”

“Undercover and other covert counter-terror measures are being implemented around the clock,” the source said.

The source described the information as “a more than credible threat. This is an active plot.”

The report comes on the same day Israel urged its citizens in Turkey to evacuate the country “as soon as possible.”

Israel issued the upgraded travel advisory following the March 19 suicide bombing in Istanbul that killed five people, including three Israeli tourists. The initial warning was a generalized “level 3” warning against travel to Turkey.

On Monday, Reuters reported on the new travel advisory issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office:

A statement by the bureau raised this to “level 2” on Monday, signifying what it called a “high concrete threat” that Islamic State or similar groups would attack Turkish tourist attractions. It did not elaborate on what prompted the alert.

The statement said Israelis should avoid going to Turkey and, if already there, “depart as soon as possible.”

If a “level 1” alert were by issued by Israel, that would urge citizens to leave the country “forthwith.”

Aaron Klein is Breitbart’s Jerusalem bureau chief and senior investigative reporter. He is a New York Times bestselling author and hosts the popular weekend talk radio program, “Aaron Klein Investigative Radio.” Follow him on Twitter @AaronKleinShow. Follow him on Facebook.

 

 

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