Shin Bet reveals alleged plot to kidnap Israeli
Palestinian man accused of planning to use civilian as bargaining chip for release of security prisoners
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The Shin Bet security service and police have arrested a former Palestinian security prisoner who allegedly plotted to kidnap an Israeli citizen in the northern town of Avtalion, the Shin Bet announced on Thursday.
The former prisoner is also suspected of attempting to carry out several attacks on civilians in the Misgav regional council and planning to set fire to a forest near Carmiel in northern Israel.
According to a Shin Bet statement, Murad Mahmoud Hassan Ali Hassin, 25, admitted he had entered a home in Avtalion on April 19 armed with a knife, in an attempt to kidnap one of the household’s members.
Hassin said he planned to use the kidnapped individual as a bargaining chip for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
His attempt proved unsuccessful as he was chased out by the owner of the home.
During his investigation, Hassin, who served two years in an Israeli prison for a failed stabbing attack on an IDF soldier, further confessed to hurling Molotov cocktails at passing vehicles near Avtalion in the days following the kidnapping attempt.
Later, he allegedly tried to set a forest in the area ablaze.
The investigators concluded that Hassin, a native of the West Bank city of Jenin, had acted of his own accord and was not assisted by others.
However, Hassin did apparently attempt to convince several other Palestinians to take part in the kidnapping.
The police prosecution filed an indictment with the Haifa District Court Thursday, accusing Hassin of attempted kidnapping with the intent of murder or extortion, breaking and entering, aggravated assault, and intentionally endangering human life.
The Times of Israel Community.