Suspicious fuel truck proves to be false alarm
Police close off Ashkelon industrial zone after suspicious device found on truck at entrance to Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline facility. Device found to be tracking device used for locating stolen vehicles
Police forces were alerted following reports of an explosive device found on a fuel tanker at the entrance to the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company's facility in Ashkelon, where large stores of gas and fuel are kept. Security officers in the nearby factories were also instructed to be on high alert.
Several minutes later the device was found to be a tracking device used to locate stolen vehicles, and police resumed routine activity.
An initial probe revealed that a device found on the tanker aroused suspicion. The truck arrived at the site through the Tarqumia checkpoint near Hebron. The truck was examined at the checkpoint, but no suspicious objects were found.
The vehicle also passed through the first checkpoint at the Ashkelon facility without any trouble.
However, a closer check carried out at the second gate of the facility revealed the mobile phone, which aroused the guards' suspicion.
Police closed the southern part of the Ashkelon industrial zone to traffic, where many sensitive facilities are located.
A security source in one of the nearby factories said, "We don't know what this is about. A shadow was placed over the entire incident. However, it is clear that any sense of security in the region has changed from now on. These are very sensitive facilities, and despite the meticulous surveillance and tight security procedures that we employ, such a concerning incident still manages to take place."
Large fuel tankers and gas stores can be found at the EAPC facility. A terminal was recently constructed at the site through which materials from the sea used at the site are transferred.
The company uses a tugboat to transfer the materials from the sea into the facility itself.
