Palestinian tries to enter settlement carrying knives, is arrested

Police scramble to Har Gilo, outside Jerusalem, after community’s security officer notices suspect at perimeter fence

By ToI Staff 21 November 2018, 10:45 pm

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Work tools and knives found in a bag carried by a suspect who tried to infiltrate the West Bank settlement of Har Gilo, November 21, 2018. (Israel Police)

A Palestinian man was arrested Wednesday night when he tried to gain entry into a West Bank settlement near Jerusalem carrying a bag with knives in it, the Israel Police said.

There were no injuries in the incident, which occurred in the Har Gilo settlement, located five kilometers (three miles) south of the capital.

The settlement’s security officer alerted police when he noticed someone trying to penetrate the community’s perimeter fence.

Officers from the paramilitary Border Police quickly arrived at the scene and together with the security officer and the Har Gilo rapid response team found the suspect, who was arrested before he managed to enter the community, a police statement said.

After combing the area, officers concluded that no other suspects had entered the settlement. During the searches they found a bag, apparently belonging to the suspect, containing work tools and knives, allegedly to carry out an attack, police said.

The suspect was taken away for further questioning.

Israeli West Bank settlements often maintain a quick response team drawn from civilian residents of the community who can be scrambled in case of a security emergency.