Terrorists arrested after planning attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank – police

A 31-year-old Palestinian terrorist with illegal residency was arrested for planning a knife attack in Jerusalem’s Old City on May 21, Israeli police said on Sunday.

His accomplice, a 32-year-old Palestinian, was also arrested after planning an armed attack on the West Bank municipality of Beit El. The military prosecutor is expected to bring charges against the two.

On May 21, the 31-year-old terrorist turned himself in to the police with a knife at his home. He had planned a knife attack in the area, but regretted it at the last moment.

After his arrest, he was taken for questioning. It emerged that the terrorist had stolen a knife from a fruit stand in the Old City that evening in order to carry out an attack. He had hidden the weapon in his trousers. He said he was looking for Orthodox Jews or police officers, but did not do so, apparently deterred by police activity in the area.

The investigation also revealed that the suspect was instructed by another person to carry out the attack. Police investigators revealed that the terrorist and his accomplice planned to acquire an improvised submachine gun called “Carlo” and carry out a firearm attack in Beit El. The terrorist’s accomplice was later arrested and interrogated, which strengthened the evidence against the two.

Last week, an East Jerusalem man was arrested after police received evidence that he was trying to join the Islamic State terrorist group.

At the end of May, an Israeli officer was injured in a knife attack in Jerusalem’s Old City; the terrorist was killed.