Israeli court extends detention of suspected al-Qaeda men

Eyad Abu Sara and Rubin Abu Nigma stand accused of plotting to bomb US embassy and Jerusalem’s International Convention Center

By AP 27 January 2014, 1:08 am

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Palestinian Eyad Abu, shot through a glass partition, waves to his family in the court of Ashkelon, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014. (photo credit: AP/Tsafrir Abayov)

ASHKELON, Israel — An Israeli court has extended by two days the detention of two Palestinian men it suspects of planning to bomb the US Embassy in Tel Aviv under instructions from al-Qaeda.

Israel accuses Eyad Abu Sara and Rubin Abu Nigma of planning a suicide bombing at the embassy and a major convention center in Jerusalem. It says they received their instructions over the Internet through a handler in the Gaza Strip who had direct ties to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri.

A third suspect was arrested last week but did not appear in court Sunday with the two others.

Israeli security officials have long warned of a growing threat posed from al-Qaeda-linked terrorists. But last week’s announcement marked the first time Israel explicitly accused the group of being behind an attempted attack.