Israel warns of threats to India

Israel is warning that Islamist militants are preparing attacks in India similar to those in Mumbai last year, media and officials have said.

Israel's counterterrorism unit said the group that launched the Mumbai attacks was planning to target Western or Israeli tourists, AFP news agency said.

Israeli television also reported that a travel advisory would warn Israelis against traveling to India.

India has blamed Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the Mumbai attacks.

"The terrorist group that carried out the serious Mumbai attack in India is planning to carry out a number of attacks across India, particularly against concentrations of Western or Israeli tourists," AFP quoted the counterterrorism unit as saying.

The attacks last November left more than 170 people dead, including nine gunmen.

Targets included a Jewish centre run by the New York-based orthodox Lubavitch organization.

The Israeli statement said the planned attacks could target other Lubavitch centres in India.

The warning was based on "a concrete, very serious threat", it said.