Palestinians caught with 3 bombs outside West Bank court
Samaria Military Court briefly closed off as police sapper defuses pipe bomb, improvised explosive devices found in 2 teenagers’ possession
Two Palestinian teenagers were arrested Thursday at the entrance to a military court in the West Bank after bombs were found among their belongings.
The entrance to the Samaria Military Court was briefly blocked, and the area cordoned off, while a police sapper inspected the explosive devices found in plastic bags.
Police said in a statement that officers noticed the “suspicious behavior” of the teens — aged 14 and 18 — and stopped them, thus foiling a terror attack at the court, near the Palestinian village of Salem in the northern West Bank.
One of the objects was revealed to indeed be a pipe bomb, while the two others were improvised explosive devices made from metal containers, police said.
All the bombs were loaded with explosives and detonators, and were subsequently destroyed in a controlled explosion.
The entrance to the court was then reopened, and the suspects were taken for questioning.
Pipe bombs are frequently used by Palestinian assailants in attempted attacks at the Samaria Military Court.
In May, security forces arrested two Palestinians after they were caught with three pipe bombs at the entrance to the court. The youths were also said to be in possession of a gas canister.
On March 11, security forces foiled an attempt to smuggle two pipe bombs into the court when two Palestinians, both 16-year-old residents of Jenin, were detained by Border Police guards at the security checkpoint at the entrance to the court.
Jacob Magid contributed to this report.
