Five suspects who planned a large terror attack at the Azrieli Mall in Tel Aviv were arrested by Central District police special unit officers, Israeli police reported on Thursday.
The suspects, all from Taybeh, were previously unknown to the police. They were found with a Carl Gustav rifle and other materials, and reportedly planned a combined terror attack involving a car bomb and shooting at the Azrieli Mall. Police reported that the suspects, aged 20-30, pledged allegiance to ISIS and consumed ideological material from the Islamist group.
A prosecutor’s statement was submitted on Tuesday, and an indictment on terrorism charges is expected on Friday. The Gideonim Unit, as well as Shin Bet operatives, also participated in the arrests.
The case began with the arrests of Mahmoud Azzam and Ibrahim Sheikh Youssef from Taybeh, who follow ISIS ideology. As the joint investigation progressed, it was discovered that the two had intended to join ISIS combat zones abroad and had contacts with foreign ISIS operatives. Creating a small terror cell, they recruited three additional Taybeh residents - Sajed Masarwa, Abdallah Baransi, and Abd al-Karim Baransi to further the cell's terrorist activities in Israel.
Targeting a crowded area
During the investigation, security forces found materials such as potassium in their possession, which is known to be used to assemble explosives. According to reports, the suspects had planned a combined attack, targeting a crowded area in central Israel, including the Azrieli Towers.
The Shin Bet and Israel police emphasized that this is a dangerous, unusual organization of Israeli citizens who intend to carry out severe terrorist actions against Israel and its citizens under ISIS ideology.
The terror plot was thwarted through precise intelligence efforts by the Shin Bet and Israeli police. Central District Commander Major General Yair Hatzroni noted the severity of the security threat, stating that the combined investigation prevented a major disaster and saved lives.
Hatzroni also stressed that any intent to promote security threats with extremist ideology is taken seriously and assured that the police would continue using all available means to prevent such threats to Israel’s security and its citizens.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.