Police and Shin Bet agents have arrested a Ben Gurion University student on suspicion of attempting to attack a public figure at the behest of an Iranian agent, authorities announce.
Bashar Hassan Qassem Musa, a 22-year-old resident of the Galilee village of Deir al-Asad studying information systems, is accused of maintaining contact with Iranian intelligence operatives over the course of months prior to his arrest. He allegedly carried out several missions for them, including an attempted attack on an unnamed public figure, scattering nails on a major route in Beersheba, and “encouraging divisive discourse.”
Police say he was ideologically motivated, spurred on by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. As is usually the case with Iran-sponsored espionage, the suspect received financial compensation from his contact.
State prosecutors in the Southern District Attorney’s Office are expected to file charges against him in the coming days following a monthlong investigation conducted by the Shin Bet and Northern District police investigators.
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