Panaji, December 14:

Police in the Indian seaside resort state of Goa today rejected Israeli warnings of “a severe terror threat” by Al Qaeda ahead of New Year celebrations.

“We have not received any specific threat or intelligence on such a threat either from New Delhi or any international agency,” Goa state police chief BS Brar said in Panaji.

In Jerusalem, the counter-security headquarters advised Israelis travelling to India to avoid the Arabian Sea resort in western India. “Travellers in Goa are under a severe terror threat of Al Qaeda attacks,” it said in a statement yesterday. “As part of the existing Al Qaeda terror threat in India, there is currently a concrete threat concentrated in the Goa region,” it added.

But Brar said, “Words such as ‘concentrated’ are vague and mean nothing.” “Maybe it’s just a general advisory to Israelis,” Brar said. “Goa is one of the safest places in the world and we have taken adequate precautions and all our guests will be safe.” Over 87 per cent of 9,000 rooms in Goa’s 12 luxury hotels and 200 low-budget complexes have already been booked for the peak festive period, Ernest Dias of the state’s Travel and Tourism Association said.