An Israeli Arab living in the north has been arrested in connection with a planned suicide bombing, Israel Police and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency said in a joint statement.
Tactical undercover Border Police arrested 37-year-old Mahmoud Hussein Mohammed Boushkar, a resident of Kabul. Boushkar’s father originates from Judea and Samaria.
שוטרי ימ"ר צפון ושב"כ עצרו תושב הצפון שתכנן לבצע פיגוע תופת
בפעילות משותפת של שירות הביטחון הכללי והיחידה המרכזית במחוז צפון נעצר על ידי יחידת המסתערבים של מג"ב מחמוד חסין מחמד בושקאר, תושב כאבול בן 37 שתכנן לבצע פיגוע תופת בישראל
בחקירתו בשב"כ ובימ"ר צפון עלה כי מחמוד צרך… pic.twitter.com/SRAm39hJ3e
— משטרת ישראל (@IL_police) January 9, 2025
The Haifa District Attorney’s Office filed an indictment against the suspect on Thursday (Jan. 9) in Haifa District Court.
During his interrogation, Boushkar admitted to reading materials on explosive manufacturing, purchasing equipment and chemicals, and conducting experiments, including producing TATP explosives and assembling a pipe bomb. He further planned to create an explosive belt for carrying out attacks in Israel, authorities said.
Investigators learned that Boushkar was unsuccessful in his attempt to recruit two people to join the plot. His “inspiration” stemmed from Israel’s current Iron Swords War and the May 2021 ‘Guardian of the Walls’ operation, both in Gaza, the Shin Bet said.
Weapons, ammunition, and materials for constructing explosives were seized during the investigation.
“The Shin Bet and Israeli Police condemn any involvement of Israeli citizens in activities threatening national security and will continue to use all available measures to thwart such threats and ensure that those involved face justice,” the statement said.
