Israel

Yerushalayim Light Rail Service Halted as Bomb Discovered in Backpack

Sunday, July 17, 2016 3:17 am | 2 Minute Read

By Dov Benovadia

Police and security personel at the scene of the attemped attack on the light erail, on Rechov Yaffo, Yerushalayim, SUnday morning. (Medbarim Tikshoret) — Police and security personnel at the scene of the attempted attack on the light rail, on Yaffo Street, Yerushalayim, Sunday morning. (Medabrim Tikshoret)

Service on Yerushalayim’s light rail was suspended Sunday morning after a security officer arrested a 20-year-old Arab who claimed to be carrying a bomb. The Arab’s backpack was seized, and he was arrested.

Police sources said that there was a “likelihood” that the backpack indeed contained explosives. Police explosives experts found three pipe bombs, detonator wires, a cellphone and several knives in his bag, a police spokeswoman said. Two main streets were closed off while police defused the devices. The sources said that under questioning the Arab admitted that he had planned to blow up the bombs on the train.

Jerusalem District Police Commander, Yoram Halevi, and Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat meet and congratulate the lightrail security who earlier this morning stopped and prevented a Palestinian man who admitted to having explosives and planned to bomb the Jerusalem Light Train, on July 17, 2016. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** פיגוע מטען חבלה ראש העיר ניר ברקת ביטחון אבטחה מפקד מחוז ירושלים יורם הלוי — Yerushalayim District Police Commander, Yoram Halevi (L) and Yerushalayim mayor Nir Barkat (R) meet and congratulate the light rail security staff who stopped and prevented a Palestinian man who admitted to having explosives and planned to bomb the light rail, Sunday. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

The incident occurred in the center of the city, at the light rail stop on Yaffo Street, near King George Street, during the morning rush hour. The Arab attempted to get on the train, but was halted by a security guard, after his suspicions were aroused.

“The plan was apparently to attack the light railway,” Yerushalayim police chief Yoram Halevi said in a statement.

Light rail train service was resumed a short while later.

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