Israel warns nationals of Al-Qaida abduction threat in Africa

The government's counterterrorism unit warned Israelis on Wednesday against traveling to a swathe of African countries in which it said Al-Qaida planned to abduct Israeli nationals.

"Information has been received that the organization intends to perpetrate attacks, especially abduction attacks, including against Israelis, in the various Sahel countries in Africa," said the Counter Terrorism Bureau in a travel advisory.

The bureau, which is part of the Prime Minister's Office, said the warning was relevant to the following countries: Ivory Coast, Togo, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali and northern Nigeria.

It said that Al-Qaida has been gaining momentum in northern Africa, noting that the terrorist organization has already abducted Austrian, German and Canadian nationals from the region.

The bureau also requested that Israelis be in telephone contact with their friends and relatives currently in those countries, and update them on the travel advisory.