Sri Lanka says three locals have been arrested over a possible attack on Israeli tourists

Sri Lankan police have arrested three people in connection with a possible attack on Israeli travelers on the Indian Ocean island, a government minister said on Thursday, a day after authorities tightened security measures across the country, with…

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lankan police have arrested three people in connection with warnings of a planned attack on Israeli travelers visiting the Indian Ocean island, a government minister said on Thursday, a day after authorities tightened security measures across the country as the U.S warned of a possible attack on a popular tourist destination.

Three Sri Lankans have been taken into custody and are now being questioned, said Vijitha Herath, Minister of Public Security and Foreign Affairs.

He declined to provide further details, saying it would hamper the investigation.

Authorities said on Wednesday they had increased security around Arugam Bay, a popular surfing destination in the east of the country, after receiving information from another country about a possible threat to Israeli travelers.

On Thursday, Herath said the information received did not contain details, but warned that “attempts are being made to cause unrest” targeting places where Israeli nationals hold religious gatherings.

There are currently 575 Israeli nationals in Sri Lanka, he said.

Also on Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka warned Americans to avoid the area around Arugam Bay until further notice because of “credible intelligence of an attack on popular tourist destinations” in the area.

The Israeli government urged its citizens to immediately leave the bay and other coastal areas in southern and western Sri Lanka.

The government said it has stepped up roadblocks and vehicle checks and deployed army and navy troops, among other security measures, to protect tourists who will visit the country during the year-end season.

Sri Lanka is slowly recovering from its worst economic crisis and the tourism industry has been one of the main drivers of its recovery.

Simultaneous suicide attacks on three tourist hotels and three churches on Easter Sunday 2019 caused a downturn in the industry and contributed to the economic collapse three years later.