Teen nabbed; bombing foiled

IDF troops recovered a 10-kilogram (22 pounds) explosives belt Wednesday afternoon after detaining a Palestinian teenager at a checkpoint in the Jordan Rift Valley.

Meanwhile, the defense establishment has 69 general warnings about terror groups’ intensions to carry out attacks, 13 of which are based on pinpoint intelligence tips.

A state of high alert put in place before the elections will continue till Thursday at least, and a closure imposed on the West Bank and Gaza Strip will remain in place.

About 1 p.m. the Palestinian teenager arrived at the Beakaot checkpoint in the Jordan Rift Valley. The teenager raised the suspicions of soldiers of the haredi brigade. Soldiers ordered him to set aside and closed the checkpoint. Border Guard sappers were called to the place. An explosives belt was found on him.

At the beginning it was not clear if it was an explosives belt or a similar device, but suspicions rose when soldiers saw wires sticking from under the teenager’s shirt.

Sappers who arrived at the scene confirmed the device is a 10-kiologram explosives belt.

'It was a big explosive belt'

The Palestinian got to the checkpoint from Nablus and told interrogators that he was given the device in Nablus and told to cross the checkpoint and wait for a man who would take him to blow himself up in a Jordan Rift Valley community or within Israel.

Regional Brigade commander Moti Almoz later told Ynet the Haredi Nachal troops who detained the suspect foiled a large-scale attack.

"A soldier and a representative of the Civilian Administration suspected the boy because of his conduct and also because of his dress…it was a big explosive belt," the commander said.

Earlier a Qassam had fallen in Palestinian territory. No one was injured and no damage was caused.