Explosive device detonated at Hawara roadblock (Archive photo)
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Office
Palestinian boy caught with bombs
Alert soldiers detain 14-year-old in possession of two pipe bombs at West Bank roadblock
Alert soldiers at the Hawara roadblock south of the West Bank town of Nablus detained a 14-year-old Palestinian boy in possession of two pipe bombs.
Eliav Elbaz, the commander of the paratroop force deployed at the checkpoint, said the soldiers’ quick action averted a disaster.
The Palestinian youngster arrived at the army roadblock Sunday evening and promptly aroused the soldiers’ suspicions.
“They instructed him to lift up his shirt, and on his belt there were two pipe bombs ready for activation,” Elbaz told Ynet. “The forces at the checkpoint immediately overcame the boy, evacuated the people, and dispatched reinforcements.”
Dozens of smuggling attempts foiled
Elbaz noted the troops have been deployed at the roadblock for three months, and in that period have foiled dozens of attempts to smuggle weapons.
“It may look as if there’s calm, but under the surface everything is stormy,” he said.
Army sappers called to the scene later blew up the explosive charges in a controlled detonation.
An Initial investigation revealed the boy came from the Askar refugee camp in Nablus.
Since the beginning of the year, security forces have detained about 50 Palestinians under the age of 18 who were involved in terror activity.
