Alaa Abu Dheim
Photo: AP
Police arrest 8 suspects in yeshiva shooting investigation
Jerusalem police chief says terrorist who killed eight Israelis in Thursday's attack on rabbinical seminary led a normal life and was not known to police; adds: Shooting not linked to Gaza operation
Jerusalem District Police Chief Aharon Franco confirmed on Saturday that investigators have arrested eight people suspected of involvement in Thursday's terror attack at the Mercaz Harav rabbinical seminary in Jerusalem.
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Franco said the attack had been planned even prior to the IDF's operation in Gaza, adding that the shooter had apparently scoped out the seminary for some time before the attack.
"As of now eight people have been arrested. We are looking into how the terrorist got hold of the weapons (used in the attack)," he told Channel 2.
Franco added that the terrorist, Alaa Abu Dheim, was not known to police. "He was a normal person who ran a taxi service and was recently engaged to be married," he said.
He said security forces in the capital were constantly on high alert as Jerusalem "is a major target for terror organizations", but stopped short of predicting any additional escalation.
"This was a one-time incident, and I do not foresee any unrest among the Arab residents of Jerusalem," Franco said, "but we are prepared."
The terrorist's father was detained for questioning immediately following the attack and investigators from the city's Minority Unit instructed him to take down the Hamas and Hizbullah flags displayed in the mourning tent. The flags were indeed removed.
