Four men in car burst through Ben Gurion Airport security barrier

Four people were arrested Tuesday night after they rammed a security barrier at Ben Gurion Airport and two of them then attempted to flee on foot, prompting a chase by security personnel.

The four — later reported to be Israeli Arabs — arrived at Ben Gurion Airport Tuesday evening, and did not heed the orders of security personnel to stop for a routine check. The suspects rammed the gate with their vehicle, and sped toward Terminal 3, the airport’s main terminal for international travel, about four kilometers from the security checkpoint.

The vehicle stopped some 200 meters from the barrier, due to the presence of a security vehicle, and two of the occupants fled on foot. They were eventually caught by security guards, arrested and transferred to police. The occupants who remained in the car were also arrested.

There were no injuries reported.

Between the time of the breach and the arrests of those who fled, security personnel had set up checkpoints along the route to prevent the suspects from reaching Terminal 3, where the main departures and arrival halls are found.

Security personnel at the Israel Airports Authority launched an initial probe into the incident.

According to an initial investigation, the suspects did not intend to commit an act of terrorism.

Police are checking whether the four, who were traveling on Route 1 in the direction of Ramle-Lod, simply took the wrong exit and panicked when the saw security guards and a checkpoint.

Police said the four were Arab citizens of Israel and that the vehicle was not stolen.