Israel Police have cleared for release the details of the investigation into an attack by three teen terrorists on a group of elderly Jewish women in their 70s and 80s on May 10.
The women were strolling down a Jerusalem path at about 8:30 am to enjoy a sunny Israeli holiday when they were stabbed by the Arab teens. The attackers were caught and the details of their plot have now been revealed thanks to evidence gathered by the meticulous efforts of a joint operation by Shin Bet intelligence agents and Israel Police.
The two security forces tracked down the terrorists after they attacked the elderly women on Israel’s Memorial Day while they were resting on a bench along the path near the promenade in Jerusalem’s Armon HaNatziv neighborhood.
The three Arab terrorists are minors ages 16-17 from the neighborhood of Jabel Mukhaber, a hotbed of terrorism – and their attack was pre-planned, according to a statement released by police. Two of the suspects were arrested on May 19.
According to the police statement, the three teens decided to meet at a small supermarket in Jabel Mukaber, armed with knives and an axe which they had brought from home. The three then proceeded in the direction of the promenade where they waited for their Jewish victims. A third suspect left the scene after becoming afraid that the attack would lead to the demolition of his parents’ home.
Two of the terrorists targeted the group of five elderly women as they were walking along the path near the Shalom Forest, and prepared to attack and stab them. The women sat down on a bench along the path during their walk, passing the two Arab youths in the process. The two, both wearing masks, then attacked them from behind.
They then fled the scene in the direction of their village while throwing and hiding their weapons on the way. One made it home and the other took refuge in his school. “Later on, one of the attackers returned to retrieve the weapons and hid them in their village,” said the police statement.
The two communicated with the third via the WhatsApp social networking application and Facebook, elated with their success and determined to carry out another. But two of the young terrorists were almost immediately tracked down; after their arrest and interrogation they admitted to the third minor being part of their terror cell. His job had been to finish the job of attacking the elderly women in case the first two terrorists were killed before they could finish off their victims. Police arrested the third Arab minor shortly after.
It also emerged during the investigation that the mother of one of the suspects was arrested a week ago for attempting a stabbing terror attack at the Zeitim checkpoint entrance to Jerusalem. She failed in her mission.
“The police will continue to operate with determination to ensure the security of the capital’s residents,” said the local Jerusalem police commander.