Overnight a combined operation of the IDF Judea and Samaria Division, Shabak and Judea and Samaria Police thwarted a weapons manufacturing infrastructure and arrested weapons makers and merchants in Bethlehem and in Hebron, the Police Spokesperson’s office reported. It was largest such operation this year.
IDF, Shabak and police forces, as well as Border Gurad units, located and captured seven weapons workshops with 22 lathes. In addition the forces discovered dozens of firearms, including magazines and parts. The forces arrested two suspects believed to be involved in making and selling illegal weapons. One of the two, considered the most prominent illegal weapons merchant in the PA, was taken in for questioning by the Shabak.
The illegal items were confiscated.
Since the beginning of 2016, the IDF, Israel Police and the Shabak have located 29 illegal weapons workshops in Judea and Samaria, with 49 lathes and more than 300 firearms. Security forces have also arrested more than 140 Arabs suspected of involvement in making and selling illegal weapons.
Since the beginning of the year there have been more than 30 terrorist attacks using firearms.