Palestinian Arrested After Breaching Security at Ben Gurion Airport

A Palestinian who drove through the security checkpoint at the entrance to Ben Gurion Airport early Thursday caused a scare that resulted in long lines.

A preliminary investigation shows that around 1:15 a.m., a stolen vehicle broke through the entrance barrier to the airport from the Yerushalayim-Tel Aviv highway. The security guard at the gate, fearing a vehicular attack, fired a bullet at the vehicle.

The vehicle was found shortly after near the gas station next to the gate. After searches, the driver, a resident of Ramallah, was caught and arrested by the security guards and handed over to the police.

All the night flights left on time and the activity at the airfield returned to normal.

The incident is being investigated.

The intruder, said to be in his 30s, was arrested and will be brought to a hearing at a court with a request to extend his detention. The car he stole was from Bat Yam.

“This is another serious incident of an attempt to harm and endanger the security forces by a resident of the PA, who entered Israel in violation of the law through the breached fence in order to damage the property of the residents of the country while posing a real risk to public safety during the attempt to escape from the law,” police stated.

Israel’s security system is on high alert as it fears a wave of terrorism as the Yamim Nora’im commence next week.