Court indicts three in Nazareth for planning terror attacks
Suspects reportedly built makeshift bombs from household items, were involved in illegal arms deals, and planned to attack Israelis.
By JPOST.COM STAFFview of Nazereth 311(photo credit: Wayne Stiles)
Three Nazareth residents were charged Sunday with conspiring to organize a terror squad to carry out attacks against civilians, as well as against soldiers and policemen.According to the indictment handed down by the Nazareth District Court, Ahmed Ghanem and Moataz Shatawi, both 19, and Nour el-Din Shahade, 18, are charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of illegal weapons, including planning to make a pipe bomb and improvised rifle.The indictment said the three had used an Internet site to learn how to assemble an improvised explosive device with a USB flashdrive.Meeting at Shahade’s home, the suspects attempted to assemble the makeshift pipe bomb from two hollow tubes, matches from 50 matchboxes, screws, nails and glue.Ghanem was also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime based on allegations that he had made a number of attempts in 2009 and 2010 to smuggle weapons between the West Bank and Israel.In one such incident, he allegedly met with a Jenin resident and agreed to sell his M-16 rifle and ammunition in Israel. Ghanem checked prices for another man who sought the sale of three Kalishnikov rifles. He also offered Ghanem an M- 16 and bullets, though that deal never materialized.The indictment also charged Ghanem of contacting a West Bank resident named Mohammed, who asked him to obtain an M-16 for $50,000, though the transaction fizzled due to cost disputes.
