Argentine police thwart alleged terror attacks in Mendoza

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's Federal Police dismantled what it said was a terrorist cell planning attacks on the Jewish community in the city of Mendoza, the National Security Ministry said in a statement on Friday, describing the group as an "Islamist terrorist organization."

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Argentina has Latin America's largest Jewish population. A 1994 attack on a Jewish community center killed 85 people in what remains the deadliest such incident in the South American nation's history. An attack against the Israeli embassy in 1992 killed 22 people.

Libertarian President Javier Milei, a staunch proponent of both the Jewish community and Israel, promised last month to beef up the national intelligence system to prevent future attacks.

KEY QUOTE

"We are going to get rid of each and every one of these criminals who intend to sow fear in Argentines and they will pay," Security Minister Patricia Bullrich posted on social media.

CONTEXT

The incident follows arrests in Argentina in January of three people with Syrian and Lebanese citizenship suspected of plotting what the authorities called a terrorist attack.

BY THE NUMBERS

Seven members of the alleged group were arrested, the security ministry said. Eight raids were carried out at the homes of the members, resulting in the seizure of firearms, knives and electronic devices, they said.

(Reporting by Maximilian Heath; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by William Mallard)