Jerusalem District Police and the Shin Bet (ISA) foiled terror attacks planned by three ISIS-supporting Jerusalem Arabs.
The suspects were planning to target Israeli security forces stationed at the Sheikh Saad checkpoint in the capital’s east by means of a shooting attack, car bomb, or explosive-laden drone. However, Israel Police and the ISA discovered their plans and arrested them before they could carry out an attack.
Over recent weeks, the Shin Bet and the Jerusalem Central Unit launched an investigation into the suspects, after suspicions were raised that they planned to carry out a terror attack at the Sheikh Sa’ad checkpoint in the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood, as well as on suspicions that they belonged to the ISIS terror group.
Guided by the ISA, one suspect from Sur Baher, a man in his 20s, was arrested several weeks ago. During a search of his home a few days later, police discovered a concealed handgun and ammunition hidden inside a sock.
The suspect was arrested and interrogated, and his detention has been extended multiple times. A few days later, two additional suspects, both in their 20s, were arrested and taken for questioning.
Investigations revealed the suspects support ISIS ideology and had consumed extensive ISIS content online, including graphic execution and combat footage. Influenced by this material, they planned attacks against police and Border Police personnel at the checkpoint.
The suspects considered various methods, including a car bomb and drone attack, ultimately settling on a car bomb since it “can cause greater damage and kill more people.”
Prior to the suspects’ arrests, they had already begun preparing for the terror attack by learning how to prepare explosives and the bomb they planned to use in the terror attack, and one of the terrorists had even acquired a weapon for the purpose of “killing Jews.” The plans, however, did not come to fruition.
The investigation also revealed that the ISIS-supporting terrorists joined the terror group and planned to leave for Syria. To this end, they contacted ISIS operatives in Judea, Samaria, and Syria through social media. It is suspected that they were seeking to receive training in explosives preparations and guidance for the terror attack.
The suspects’ arrests have been extended in court, and upon completion of the investigation, a Prosecutor’s statement was filed against two of them, and the third’s arrest was extended. It is expected that the third suspect will be indicted in the coming days.
“Israeli Police and the Shin Bet will continue to act together with other security forces to arrest terror operatives and thwart plans to carry out terror attacks, in order to protect the citizens of the State of Israel,” a joint statement read.