Massive Terror Plot Foiled

YERUSHALAYIM (Reuters/Hamodia) —

Israel said on Thursday it had foiled plans by Hamas to attack Yerushalayim’s largest soccer stadium, other parts of the city and targets in Yehudah and Shomron.

Israel’s Shin Bet security service arrested 30 members of the group in September, some of whom had received weapons and explosives training from Hamas terrorists in Jordan and the Gaza Strip. But the story was not released for publication until Thursday.

Planning for attacks against Israeli targets, including Yerushalayim’s Teddy soccer stadium and the city’s light rail, was carried out by Hamas officials in Turkey, the Shin Bet added in a statement.

Hamas had no comment.

The terrorist network had already begun operations on August 31, when its members set two timer-detonated explosives in the Shomron. B’chasdei Shamayim, neither attack resulted in injuries.

The second explosive was timed to kill emergency responders, the Shin Bet said.

Following that attack, the Shin Bet arrested and interrogated dozens of suspects.

“They received military training, and were given missions. At the start of 2014, they moved in and began taking action. Their missions included meetings with operatives, preparing [terrorist] infrastructure, and gathering intelligence on targets,” the Shin Bet said.

Recruitment of students who supported the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas with useful  skills in various areas began as early as 2012. Selected individuals were routed to Hamas’s Turkey-based headquarters, where they received military training.

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