Police arrest man with explosive device in West Bank
The suspect had one pipe bomb strapped to his body; the second in a coat placed near soldiers.
By DANIEL K. EISENBUDUpdated: DECEMBER 18, 2017 01:24One of two pipe bombs seized and neutralized by police at the entrance to Samaria Military Court in the West Bank.(photo credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Border Police on Sunday morning disarmed and arrested a would-be Palestinian suicide bomber who attempted to infiltrate the West Bank’s Samaria Military Courthouse with two pipe bombs and a knife.No injuries were reported.According to the court, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Border Police and Military Police forces saw the unidentified suspect wearing a heavy coat upon his arrival at the entrance to the courthouse, located next to the Arab village of Salem.After arousing the guards’ suspicion, the man was asked to remove the coat and lift his shirt, at which time soldiers saw a pipe bomb strapped to his body. A subsequent search also uncovered a pipe bomb and knife in his coat’s pockets.A team of Border Police sappers, or demolition experts, neutralized the bombs, which the court said were loaded with several kilograms of explosives.US President Donald Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel"s capital and announces embassy to relocate“The Border Police applaud the alertness of the fighters who thwarted an attack on the court compound and saved lives,” police said in a statement.The suspect, a resident of the Jenin refugee camp, is believed to be part of a pipe-bomb making ring and is being questioned by police.The attempted attack comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding US President Donald Trump’s announcement earlier this month that the United States would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move its embassy there.In October, police also disarmed and arrested a 17-year-old male suspect from Jenin, when he unsuccessfully attempted to enter the same courthouse with a pipe bomb.
