Channels

Photo: Gil Yochanan
Arieh Katz: Suspected of planting device
Photo: Gil Yochanan
Photo: Gil Yochanan
Second suspect: Meir Bretler
Photo: Gil Yochanan

Soldiers arrested for J'lem device

Police arrest two ultra-orthodox soldiers for suspicion of planing fake device in Jerusalem's central bus station; device caused massive delays, came with anti-pullout note

Police arrested two soldiers from an ultra-Orthodox unit (Nahal Haredi) Monday, both in their 20s, for suspicion of planting a fake device in Jerusalem’s central bus station last week.

 

The two soldiers were taken into custody Monday afternoon, and the Jerusalem Magistrates Court extended their remand Monday evening.

 

If they indeed planted the device, their act would be the first time that religious soldiers opposed to the pullout crossed the line from order refusal to active attempts to destroy the disengagement plan.

 

The soldiers were arrested by officers from the central Jerusalem police station, and are being questioned by both police and military police. Police officials say they have refused to speak.

 

12 kilograms, shut down bus station

 

Security forces treated last week’s incident with severity, and shut down the entire central bus station and all bus routes to and from the capital, following the discovery of the suspicious device in one of the station’s bathrooms.

 

The device included a 12 kilogram gas balloon, a clock, and wires.

 

Large police and military border forces were mobilized to the area, and a bomb squad unit discovered a note which read: “The disengagement will blow up in your face.”

 


Note: 'Disengagement will blow up in your face!' 

 

Outrage

 

Jerusalem police commander Nitzav Ilan Franco descried his outrage after the incident. “This is a clear disruption caused to public transport and those using it. We were forced to stop the routine of travelers for an hour and a half and there is no justification for that.

 

My people are furious about the incident, we had to activate many units for lengthy periods, including the bomb squad, border police, and we had to close roads. A lot of suffering was caused to civilians,” said Franco.

 

Intenstive Inquiries

 

The police put out a blanket media ban on all aspects of the investigation into the incident, which progressed in an intensive manner.

 

Yesterday, Jerusalem detectives arrested two suspects for placing the device – soldiers from an ultra-religious unit. The pair, residents of the West Bank, are being questioned since yesterday, and today were remanded in custody.

 

Police are continuing their inquiries, and are cooperating with military police.

 

Opponents to the disengagement have employed the tactic of placing fake devices on previous occasions, mainly in the capital.

 

Last May, a device was planted in Jerusalem’s busy Bar-Ilan Street, with a note similar to that found in last week’s incident. An hour later, a similar device was planted in Herzl Boulevard (Jerusalem), with a note which read: “Jews don’t expel Jews.”

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.18.05, 15:44
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment