IDF raids ‘one of biggest gun factories ever found’ in West Bank
Dozens of weapons, manufacturing tools confiscated at Hebron facility, including M-16 parts and large amounts of ammunition
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleIDF soldiers raided a gun-making workshop in the West Bank early Monday morning, which the army described as one of the largest weapons factories ever found there.
The workshop was located in the underground basement of a residential building in the city of Hebron.
IDF forces confiscated 15 lathes for producing guns, dozens of Carl Gustav-style guns, parts of M-16 rifles and large quantities of ammunition, according to an IDF colonel who took part in the raid.
The owner of the factory and his son were arrested by the IDF.
In the past year, Israeli security forces have shut down 40 gun-making workshops, which manufactured guns such as those used in the Sarona Market shooting attack in Tel Aviv in June, and which have became ubiquitous throughout the West Bank during the recent terror wave.
Israeli security forces have also confiscated over 420 guns during this time, according to an IDF spokesperson.
Since a nearly year-long wave of terrorist attacks began in October 2015, Israeli security forces have carried out nightly arrests of Palestinians in the West Bank possessing weapons and involved in gun manufacturing and smuggling.
While many of the hundreds of weapons captured were army issue, others were improvised weapons built in illegal gun making workshops. Their street value is significantly less than higher quality guns such as a M-16 rifle, making them easier to acquire.
The Times of Israel Community.