.jpg "Photo: Hagai Aharon")
Chopper causes panic
Photo: Hagai Aharon
Chopper causes panic south of Tel Aviv
Anxious residents fear terror attack after spotting police helicopter on operational duty
The residents of Rishon Lezion, just south of Tel Aviv, were surprised Wednesday evening to see a helicopter hovering above the city. Many anxious residents feared that the unusual sight was related to a possible terror threat in the area. However, as it turned out, the police helicopter was searching for suspects after a woman in the city was robbed.
The police chopper flew above residential homes near a mall in town, prompting some residents to panic.
"It was scary to see the helicopter flying right above our heads," said a neighborhood resident, Leah, in a talk with Ynet. She said it appeared as though the chopper was looking for something specific and kept on flying back and forth.
"We didn't hear about any (terror) incident, but we were stressed," she said.
Roadblocks set up
However, police were in fact searching for two suspects who stole a local resident's bag and fled the scene on a scooter. Police forces in town set up roadblocks in an effort to nab the robbers and asked for the assistance of a helicopter.The local police chief, Amihai Eshed, said that police always ask for a helicopter in similar cases, but normally no chopper is available.
"Gladly, this time our request was met," Eshed said.
However, despite the assistance, no suspects in the robbery have been detained.
