Israel’s combined security services were successful in exposing and arresting three Arab terrorists who were involved in shooting attacks at police forces in the Jerusalem area last year, the Shin Bet announced Monday.
In September 2021, there were violent riots in the Issawiya neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem, during which live fire was shot at police forces operating at the site.
There were no casualties or damage in these incidents.
A joint and complex investigation launched by the Shin Bet with the Jerusalem District police led to the arrest of a number of suspects in recent months on suspicion of launching fireworks, throwing rocks, throwing Molotov cocktails, and firing at police forces.
About a month ago, another suspect, a resident of Issawiya in his 40s, was arrested for providing a service to a terrorist organization. His interrogation revealed that he hid one of the weapons after the shooting.
According to Hakol Hayehudi, that suspect was a senior Waqf official who is in charge of all the Waqf guards. The police did not mention that detail.
>משום מה את הפרט הזה. לפי כתב האישום עליאן מסר את הנשק לקרוב משפחתו אך לא ידע שבכוונתו לבצע ירי על שוטרים. לאחר הפיגוע הראשון, כך נכתב בכ.א, עליאן אף אמר לו שהוא מסבך אותו אולם השאיר ברשותו את הנשק וזה ביצע שני פיגועים נוספים עד שנעצר.
בעברו של עליאן 5 הרשעות ובהן עבירות נשק>
— אלחנן גרונר (@elchangr)
>ועבירות ביטחוניות. כפי שפרסמנו ב , לאחר מעצרו בחודש שעבר (בתמונה), שומר וואקף אחר היכה באגרופים ובעיטות שוטר יהודי שהיה שותף במעצר של עליאן.
זו לא המעורבות היחידה של הוואקף בטרור. כמו שחשפנו פאדי אבו שחידם שרצח את אליהו קיי הי"ד בירושלים היה במעמד בכיר בוואקף וערך> pic.twitter.com/CV6uarPmGA— אלחנן גרונר (@elchangr)
At the end of the investigation, an indictment was filed against him by the State Attorney’s Office charging him with the purchase and possession of weapons, illegal carrying and transporting weapons, and another offense of transaction in weapons.
Two days after this arrest, the Shin Bet and Jerusalem detectives arrested the suspect in the shooting itself. The suspect, a resident of Issawiya in his 20s, was brought in for questioning by the police, and his detention was extended from time to time.
Upon completion of the investigation, an indictment was filed against him on Monday that includes five different charges, including offenses of carrying and transporting a weapon, possession of a weapon, and an act of terrorism of attempted murder.
The investigation revealed that the shooting involved another third suspect, also a resident of Issawiya in his 30s, who provided the Carlo-type submachine gun that was used to carry out the shooting at the police officers.
The suspect was arrested last month, and upon completion of the investigation, an indictment was filed last week against him for carrying a weapon and the illegal possession of a weapon.
Earlier this month, the Shin Bet and Jerusalem District Police detectives seized the two guns used in the shooting during a search of an open area in Issawiya. They were found hidden buried in the ground with ammunition next to them.
The Shin Bet noted that the investigation is still ongoing in relation to additional suspects arrested on suspicion of their involvement in the shooting incidents, participation in riots, and weapons offenses.
The Israel Police “will continue to work together with the security forces for a determined and uncompromising fight against terrorism and shooting operations against civilians and the security forces, anytime, anywhere,” it stated.
JewishPress.com News Desk contributed to this report.