Police Chief Dudi Cohen
Photo: Shai Vaknin
Police declare high terror alert
Police chief decides to call in reinforcements after receiving warnings of dozens of possible terror attacks that may be attempted in retaliation for Gaza op
Police say they are preparing for terror attacks that may be attempted in retaliation for the IDF strike in Gaza Saturday by placing the force on high alert and calling in reinforcements.
Intelligence reports warn of 10 specific terror alerts and dozens of general alerts. Security forces are primarily concerned about possible suicide attacks as well as kidnapping attempts.
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The high alert will focus on preventing terror attacks and clashes in known areas of conflict.
"I call on the citizens of Israel to continue their lives as usual and the residents of the south to follow the orders of the Homefront Command and to be cautious," said Commander Yuval Kimhi, head of the police's emergency planning department.
"The police are focusing efforts on four points," Kimhi explained. "The prevention of projectile fire and saving lives in the Gaza vicinity, the thwarting of terror attacks, the prevention of riots throughout Israel, and the fulfillment of routine police procedure while instilling in civilians a sense of security."
He said officers, Border Guard, and volunteers would be sent as reinforcements to the Northern, Southern, and Jerusalem Districts.
Police Chief Dudi Cohen ordered the force on high alert after a security assessment, and all vacations were temporarily canceled.
