Hundreds of Police Seize Weapons, Make Arrests in Shuafat

Hundreds of police and border police descended on the Shuafat neighborhood of Yerushalayim in a wide-ranging search for weapons and to shut down terror cells that have been operating in the area. Nine suspects were taken into custody for weapons possession, and for holding and distributing material to encourage terror attacks.

Besides targeting terror groups, police and border guards targeted several known crime syndicates operating in the neighborhood. Police said that the arrests and confiscation of weapons would increase the security of residents. In the raids, police found large numbers of guns, knives, nightsticks and other items used in terror and crime activities.

Overnight Monday, security officials said they arrested 12 wanted security suspects in other areas 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.