Youthful Terrorist Planned Old City Stabbing Spree, Police Say

Police said  Tuesday that an Arab youth who had been caught in the Old City of Yerushalayim on Monday had been planning a stabbing attack. Under questioning, the 14-year-old resident of Shuafat said that he had been “inspired” to carry out an attack by friends of his who had done the same previously. The terrorist was wandering around the Jewish Quarter looking for potential victims when he was stopped by security forces and arrested.

Police in Yehudah and Shomron discovered overnight Monday a houseful of weapons in the village of Jilazoun, near Ramallah. Among the many weapons found were M16 rifles, Carl Gustav submachine guns, various handguns, bomb-making material, and other dangerous contraband. Two individuals connected with the cache were arrested.

In addition, IDF troops overnight Monday arrested 15 wanted security suspects in Yehudah and Shomron. The suspects were wanted for participating in rioting and throwing stones and firebombs that endangered Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Several of the suspects were also charged with belonging to Hamas. All were being questioned on their activities by security forces.

The IDF also said that it had located the home of Amjad al-Sukari from the village of Jama’in, the terrorist who attacked IDF soldiers at the Focus checkpoint outside Beit El Sunday morning. Three IDF soldiers were injured in the terror shooting attack. One of the soldiers was in serious condition, according to Magen David Adom rescue workers. The other two sustained moderate to light injuries. All have shown marked improvement since the shooting. Al-Sukari was the personal bodyguard of Palestinian Authority’s top district attorney, Israel Radio reported.

His home is slated to be demolished, the IDF said. No date has been set for the demolition.