Scotland Yard gave prior warning of attacks to Isreali Embassy

By AMY TEIBEL, Associated Press Writer Thu Jul 7, 7:14 AM ET

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050707/ap_on_re
_mi_ea/israel_britain_explosions_1

British police told the Israeli Embassy in London minutes before
Thursday's explosions that they had received warnings of possible
terror attacks in the city, a senior Israeli official said.

Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had planned to
attend an economic conference in a hotel over the subway
stop where one of the blasts occurred, and the warning
prompted him to stay in his hotel room instead, government
officials said.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he wasn't aware of any
Israeli casualties.

Just before the blasts, Scotland Yard called the security
officer at the Israeli Embassy to say they had received
warnings of possible attacks, the official said. He did
not say whether British police made any link to the
economic conference.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the
nature of his position.

The Israeli Embassy was in a state of emergency after the
explosions in London, with no one allowed to enter or
leave, said the Israeli ambassador to London, Zvi Hefet.

All phone lines to the embassy were down, said Danny Biran,
an Israeli Foreign Ministry official.

The ministry set up a situation room to deal with hundreds
of phone calls from concerned relatives. Thousands of
Israelis are living in London or visiting the city at
this time, Biran said.

Amir Gilad, a Netanyahu aide, told Israel Radio that
Netanyahu's entourage was receiving updates all
morning from British security officials, and "we have
also asked to change our plans."

Netanyahu had been scheduled to stay in London until
Sunday, but that could change, Gilad said.

©2005 The Associated Press