West Bank Palestinian charged with planning Jerusalem stabbing
Mahmoud Ayyad, 18, indicted for entering Israel illegally in plot to attack security forces, civilians at Damascus Gate
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The Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday indicted an 18-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank on terrorism charges for an alleged plan to carry out a stabbing attack on Israeli civilians or security forces in the capital last week.
Mahmoud Ayyad, a resident of the Deheishe refugee camp near Bethlehem, was charged with conspiracy to commit a terror attack and entering Israel illegally.
According to the indictment, Ayyad set out from his Bethlehem-area home on January 15, intending to stab Israeli police officers, soldiers or ultra-Orthodox Jews near the Old City’s Damascus Gate.
The court said Ayyad was motivated by political, religious and nationalist ideology, and did not posses a valid permit to enter Israel.
Ayyad slipped past the security barrier near Jerusalem, but was later arrested for not having a permit by Israeli Border Police officers during a routine security check in the A-Tur neighborhood.
During questioning, police said Ayyad admitted he was heading to the Damascus Gate area, where he planned to buy a knife and carry out the stabbing attack.
Prosecutors requested court extend Ayyad’s remand for the remainder of the legal proceedings against him.
The Damascus Gate area has been the site of several deadly stabbing and shooting attacks by Palestinians during the recent wave of terrorism and violence.
While the violence has dramatically waned in recent months, sporadic attacks have persisted.
The Times of Israel Community.