Bombs in a Bagel Cart: Police Arrest Arab Peddlers in Old City

Police on Wednesday confiscated explosives and ammunition from a food cart in the Old City of Yeurshalayim. The haul included two pipe bombs. The owners of the carts – two 40-year-old Arab residents of the Old City – were arrested. Police sappers neutralized the weapons. Police are investigating the background of the incident, and have not ruled out nationalistic or criminal motives.

Earlier Wednesday, security personnel at Sdeh Dov Airport in Tel Aviv found hand grenades, ammunition clips, and dozens of bullets in the luggage of an Israeli woman who was flying to Eilat. The woman, a resident of Eilat, was detained and questioned, and told security personnel that the items did not belong to her and that she had no idea they were there. The bag turned out to belong to another family member, and police are seeking him for questioning as well.

Overnight Tuesday, security officials said they had arrested 18 security suspects in Yehudah and Shomron. The suspects were wanted for participating in rioting, and throwing stones and firebombs that endangered both 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.