Shin Bet: 9 Palestinians arrested for plotting terror attacks against Israeli forces

Indictment to be filed against suspects in coming days.

NOVEMBER 10, 2016 18:14

Updated: NOVEMBER 10, 2016 20:13

IDF forces raid home of terrorist. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT) — IDF forces raid home of terrorist.

(photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)

Eight Palestinians from the West Bank and one from East Jerusalem were arrested by Israeli security forces on suspicion of targeting and planning future terror attacks against Israeli forces with explosive devices, Israel’s Shin Bet security agency said in a statement.

Their arrests, which was cleared for release by the Shin Bet on Thursday, had occurred between August and October in a joint operation by the IDF and police.

According to the statement, the eight suspects from the northern West Bank, had targeted IDF forces on several occasions using various types of explosive devices and been manufacturing pipe bombs for future attacks.

During the investigation, Ahmed Azela, from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Bab al-Huta in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, admitted during interrogation that he had planned to smuggle two kilograms of gunpowder from the West Bank to Jerusalem to manufacture the pipe bombs.

As part of the investigation into the cell, Israeli security forces raided the facility used in the production of the explosives. Several explosive devices and 120 kilograms of raw material used in the manufacturing of the devices were seized.

The indictments against the suspects are expected to be filed in the coming days in the Jerusalem District Court.

Since October 2015 36 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean, a Jordanian and a Sudanese national have been killed a wave of stabbing, car-ramming, and shooting attacks carried out by Palestinians. At least 238 Palestinians have also been killed, according to Israeli authorities, most of them carrying out the attacks. Many others have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israeli security forces, including the Shin Bet intelligence agency, Israeli Defense Forces and police, have increased their efforts to uncover unofficial workshops producing explosives and other illegal weapons. Many such workshops are often found in private homes.

Israel has carried out near-nightly raids in the West Bank, shutting down weapons factories and confiscating arms, greatly reducing the number of illegal explosive devices and other weapons that could end up in the hands of potential attackers.