Palestinians caught with explosives at Tapuach junction
The two Palestinians were also carrying an improvised firearm and several knives; suspects transferred to Shin Bet for questioning.
Border Police officers arrested two Palestinians on Thursday carrying three pipe bombs, an improvised firearm and several knives near the Tapuach junction.
The Palestinians, in their 20s, raised the suspicion of Border Police officers who were stationed in the area and after conducting a search, the officers uncovered the explosives. The two were then arrested and transferred to the Shin Bet for questioning.
An investigation of the incident revealed that after one of the terrorists had pulled out a gun, a Border Guard officer cocked her weapon and another officer, who also at the checkpoint, managed to knock the gun out of the suspect's hands.
The troops then saw that one of the suspects was carrying a black backpack, which he had refused to open. The officers noticed there were electrical wires inside the bag and realized the suspect had an explosive device with him, after which they cleared the scene, ordered civilians who were in the area to disperse, and called the police sappers.
"Two young Palestinians arrived at the bus stop near the Tapuach checkpoint, and I notified two officers who were stationed nearby. The officers approached the suspects in order to examine them, and they initially said they were headed to Ramallah. At that point, one of the suspects pulled out a gun and directed it towards one of the officers," checkpoint commander First Sgt. Almog Ohana said.
Meanwhile, the West Bank district police heightened security ahead of Yom Kippur and Eid al-Adha celebrations this weekend. Crossings into the West Bank will be closed from midnight Thursday until Sunday. Officers of the West Bank district police, Border Police officers, volunteers, and IDF soldiers will be deployed in towns and communities throughout the country from Friday until the end of Yom Kippur, placing an increased emphasis on the security of communities and synagogues.
