ISRAELIS have been warned not to go to the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden amid fears of a terrorist attack.
Authorities fear terrorist factions “will exploit protests” planned against Israel taking part in this year’s competition.
Sweden has promised a dazzling show from May 7 to 11, but plans have been marred by demonstrations organised over Israel’s military offensive in Gaza – triggered by Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack.
Protesters are set to take to the streets on May 9, when Israel will take part in the second semi-final, and again on the day of the final, May 11.
Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) has now urged citizens to avoid travelling to host city Malmo, citing “well-founded concerns” of terrorist attacks.
It comes as ISIS could be gearing up for a new wave of attacks after cops foiled 12 terror plots across Europe in the past year.
There are growing concerns the terror group could leverage the Middle East conflict to launch bloodshed in the continent and spark chaos.
In an unusual move, the Israeli military said its home front command mobile app will also provide “real-time notifications” with any emergency instructions throughout the contest.
Typically, the app alerts Israelis to take shelter from incoming rocket fire.
The security council said it had “a well-founded concern that terrorist elements will exploit the protests and the anti-Israel mood to carry out attacks against Israelis attending Eurovision”.
It has also raised the travel alert for Malmo from level two (potential threat) to level three (moderate threat).
A spokesman for the Israeli Defence Forces said: “This is a unique move adapted for the Eurovision event only and within the defined schedules”.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the contest, resisted calls for Israel and its contestant, Eden Golan, to be excluded.
Israel was permitted to compete after it agreed to modify the lyrics of its original song “October Rain” which the EBU said made reference to the October 7 assault.
Golan will instead perform a version called “Hurricane”.
She told AFP news agency: “I was kind of shocked when the EBU didn’t approve the song. I don’t think the first version was political.”
But Golan, 20, has been told she must not leave her hotel room except from to perform at the show, Swedish paper Expressen reports.
It comes as organisers have been forced to ramp up security measures, with more than 100,000 visitors expected to swarm Sweden’s third-largest city.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/11265731/eurovision-isis-threat-sweden-terrorists-attacks