Two explosive devices weighing 1.5 kilos each (about 3.3 pounds) were found by IDF soldiers Saturday during a routine search of a Palestinian teen’s belongings at the Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus in the West Bank.
Border Guard sappers dispatched to the scene conducted a controlled-detonation of the devices, and the 16-year-old Palestinian was taken in for interrogation by Israeli security forces.
It remains unclear whether the teen was supposed to transfer the devices to someone else or carry out a terror attack on his own.
Palestinian sources said he is a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, Fatah’s armed wing.
IDF forces operating in the Nablus area have discovered seven explosive devices and three explosive belts since the beginning of the year.
A month ago a Palestinian was caught by IDF soldiers manning the Hawara checkpoint with a 10-centimeter (about 4 inches) knife, and in January a Palestinian was detained after attempting to cross the checkpoint with a makeshift grenade, two Molotov cocktails and a knife.
Ali Waked contributed to the report
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