Israel warns of al Qaeda attacks in Goa

JERUSALEM, Dec 13 (Reuters) Israel said tourists visiting India's Goa state during the Christmas holidays face a ''concrete threat'' of an al Qaeda attack and advised its citizens today against travelling to the popular beach area.

Last month, Indian authorities decided to strengthen security in Goa after intelligence agencies warned of a ''Bali-like'' attack, referring to the 2002 bombings that killed 202 people, many of them foreigners on vacation.

Goa's police chief, saying federal agencies did not want to take any chances, denied at the time there was any specific threat against the region.

In a travel advisory on its Hebrew-language Web site, Israel's Foreign Ministry said: ''Within the framework of al Qaeda's terror threats in India, there is now a concrete threat focusing on the Goa region where multitudes of visitors, including Israelis, gather ...

in late December.'' It said Israel's Counter-Terrorism Authority recommended Israeli citizens stay away from sites in Goa popular with Westerners and Israelis over the next few weeks.

Nearly 400,000 tourists flock to Goa's beaches and palm groves during the peak October-March season.

REUTERS PDM KN2207