Suicide bomber stopped on way to attack
(VIDEO) Bomber had five kilograms of explosives on him, together with nuts and bolts to increase the carnage; police chief says 'disaster' was averted
The IDF announced Saturday that army and police forces thwarted a major suicide terror attack in central Israel.
Security forces arrested an 18 year-old would-be suicide bomber on Friday. Jihad Shahada, a Fatah member, infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip, and was caught in the Negev desert.
Later, the bomber’s handler was arrested in Jaffa, where his estranged wife resides. The handler, a 25 year-old Palestinian from Gaza, was named as Salam Taavat.
Southern district police chief Ori Bar-Lev told ynet that “a very large attack has been prevented, planned for an area packed with people in central Israel. A combined operation by the Shabak, the IDF, and the police prevented a disaster.”
The incident began at 23:00 when the Shabak received intelligence about a terrorist leaving Jabalia in order to carry out a major attack in central Israel.
Large police and army forces were mobilized around Gaza, between Sderot and Ashdod. At the same time, police units were stationed on central arteries in the area, and blocked the entrances to towns and cities.
An elevated level of alertness was declared in kibbutzim and villages in the western Negev area, following signs that the electronic fence on the Gaza border was breached.
IDF scouts began following the bomber’s trails, and succeeded in tracking him down after he had already entered Israeli territory.
Police say that the bomber was alarmed when he saw the large army and police forces, and therefore split off from his handler.
Maximizing the carnage
A bomb belt weighing five kilograms was found on the man's body, with nuts and bolts packed around the explosives in order to maximize the carnage that would have resulted from the blast.
A bomb squad carried out a controlled explosion on the device, resulting in a powerful blast which was heard from afar, according to witnesses. In the following hours, the bomber’s handler was arrested in Jaffa by security forces.
Security analysts believe the bomber was heading for a target in central area, and was planning on detonating the explosives in an area packed with people.
Together with his handler, the bomber created a “window” in the electronic fence, and attempted to get around the electronic sensors on the fence by making it look as if it was untouched.
But IDF scouts and backup security systems identified the infiltration, which led the rapid arrest of the bomber.
Abu Mazen failing to crack down?
Since the start of 2005, IDF forces have thwarted over 90 attempts by Palestinians to cross the electronic fence and travel from Gaza to Israel.
During those occasions, those caught usually said they were searching for work, and were unarmed. However, sources in the IDF said that some of those caught may be terrorists disguised as job-seekers.
Gaza is thought to be a extremely difficult launching pad for attacks in Israel. The last terror attack originating from Gaza took place in the Ashdod port.
Police sources have said that the bomber’s membership in Fatah raises doubts in the Palestinian Authority’s ability to prevent terror attacks inside Israel.
