The Israeli Prime Minister’s office says that an Israeli citizen living in the United Arab Emirates has been missing for two days.
The PMO said in a statement Saturday that Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen, had been missing since Thursday afternoon.
Kogan is a representative of Chabad, a religious movement of Hasidic Jews with communities, synagogues and other institutions in many countries.
The PMO’s office said that “since he disappeared, and due to information suggesting that this is a terror incident, an extensive investigation was launched in the country (the UAE).”
“The Israeli intelligence and security services have been operating tirelessly, due to their concern to the wellbeing and safety of Zvi Kogan.”
It said that Israel’s National Security Agency had previously recommended Israeli citizens avoid unnecessary travel to the UAE.
The UAE interior ministry confirmed Saturday it “had received a report from the family of a Moldovan national named Zvi Kogan, stating that he has been missing and out of contact since last Thursday.”
“Specialized authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report,” the ministry said in a statement published by the state-run WAM news agency.
The ministry urged “the public to rely on official sources for information and to avoid heeding malicious rumors or misleading news aimed at causing confusion in the community.”
The UAE foreign ministry also said it was “closely monitoring the case of a missing Moldovan citizen.”
The ministry is “in close contact with his family to provide them with all means of necessary support,” the ministry added.
This is a developing story. More to come.
