Beersheba bus station shooter was in touch with Hamas, police charge

The man who carried out a deadly shooting terror attack at the Beersheba central bus station a week ago was in contact with Palestinian terror group Hamas for an extended period, and prepared for his attack ahead of time, police said Sunday.

The terrorist, Muhanad Alukabi, 21, from an unrecognized Bedouin village in the Negev, had photos of Hamas operatives, guns and other weapons saved on his phone, police said in a statement.

On October 18, Alukabi opened fire in the bus station of the southern city, killing a soldier, stealing his gun and wounding 11 others. He was killed in a shootout with police after holing up in a bathroom.

The attack was seen as out of the ordinary both because it was carried out with a gun and because the attacker had Israeli citizenship.

Most attacks during the current round of violence have been carried out by so-called “lone wolf” attackers not acting as part of a larger terror group. But the Alukabi link shows Hamas may have been linked to the shooting.

Southern District Police Commander Yoram Halevi said after a gag order on the investigation was lifted that one could say “without a doubt and in contradiction of the rumors and conspiracy theories on social networks that Muhanad Alukabi is not innocent.”

Muhanad Alukabi, 21, who carried out the terror attack on the Beersheba bus station. (Shin Bet)

“It has been proven unequivocally that he was the terrorist who murdered IDF soldier Omri Levy, may his memory be blessed, and was involved in the shooting and harming of police officers who courageously disarmed the terrorist and prevented the continuation of his murderous journey,” Halevy said.

He said that evidence showed that Alukabi “planned his action carefully over a long period of time.”

Police also released security camera footage showing Alukabi following Levy for an extended period before killing him, and the police shootout with him.

According to the Shin Bet security service, Alukabi’s mother was originally from the Gaza Strip and was granted citizenship because she was married to an Israeli Arab. The attacker had no previous criminal record.

Police said Sunday that Alukabi’s brother had failed to prevent a crime when he knew that Alukabi purchased a gun. The police alleged that the brother was aware of the Alukabi’s process of radicalizing.

The brother, police claimed, was obligated to report Alukabi’s activities to the police.

Bedouin leaders condemned the attack less than 24 hours after it took place.

“Following [Sunday’s] terrorist attack at the Beersheba central bus station in which two innocent people lost their lives, we utterly and unreservedly condemn this despicable act and reject violence of any sort,” Hura Mayor Mohammed Alnabari said in a statement as community leaders gathered for an urgent meeting.

During the attack, an Eritrean man was also accidentally shot by responding forces who mistook him for a terrorist. A crowd then beat Haftom Zarhum, who died after being taken to a hospital. Four people have been arrested in connection with the beating.