Shin Bet Arrests Palestinian Suspected of Planning Imminent Attack in Central Israel

The Shin Bet arrested a Palestinian who was illegally staying in Israel after receiving intelligence indicating that he intended to carry out an imminent terrorist attack in central Israel, Army Radio reported today, Thursday.

According to the report, the suspect had already crossed from the West Bank into Israel when the warning was received. A joint “Tequila” team from the Shin Bet and the Israel Police’s elite Yamam counterterrorism unit was immediately dispatched. The team apprehended the suspect and transferred him to the Shin Bet for questioning.

This is the second case this week in which a Palestinian illegally present in Israel has been arrested on suspicion of planning an attack.

Second Arrest at Bnei Brak Light Rail Station

Two days earlier, officers from the Tel Aviv District Police light rail unit arrested a Palestinian at the underground Aharonovich station in Bnei Brak.

The suspect, a 32-year-old resident of the West Bank, was spotted by station security guards in the morning while filming and photographing the area. Suspicious of his actions, the guards immediately alerted police officers, who arrived at the scene and began checking his identity.

The suspect initially provided a false identification number and claimed to be an Israeli citizen from Tayibe. A more thorough investigation, however, revealed that he was a Palestinian staying in Israel illegally and was already known to security forces.

According to the report, he had previously been involved in attacks against Israeli targets.