Police in Mauritania have foiled an attempt by an unidentified Mauritanian citizen to attack the Israeli embassy in Nouakchott Wednesday, security sources said. According to the sources, the man tried to force his way into the embassy, which is heavily guarded by the National Guard. When he could not gain access, he hurled what was thought to be an explosive device at the embassy building, but there was no explosion. The police quickly moved in to arrest the lone attacker. There is widespread anger against Israel in Mauritania over the bombings of Gaza, which have been condemned by the Mauritanian government and the opposition, among others. The parliament, the opposition and the association of mayors are among those who have urged the government to sever the diplomatic ties between Nouakchott and Tel Aviv. The first attack against the Israeli embassy in Mauritania, claimed by a faction of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, was perpetrated in February 2008.
