Police arrest 2 East Jerusalem men said to be planning ISIS-linked attack near Knesset
Authorities say pair purchased chemicals to make bombs for attacks, in second such case this month
For the second time this month, police announced on Monday the arrest of two East Jerusalem residents accused of supporting the Islamic State terror group, who were allegedly planning to carry out bombing attacks near the Knesset in the capital.
The pair purchased chemicals including hydrogen peroxide to make explosive devices that were to be used to kill civilians and security forces in Jerusalem, the Israel Police and the Shin Bet security service said in a joint statement.
An investigation was launched after the Shin Bet uncovered the suspects’ plans and they were arrested before they could carry out any attacks.
According to the charge sheet presented at the Jerusalem District Court, the suspects regularly consumed ISIS materials online, such as videos on religious sermons and executions, including beheadings.
Police said that Mustafa Abd Al-Nabi and Ahmad Natasha, aged 19 and 20, were arrested on December 26 at their homes in Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem. During a search, security forces found chemicals that were believed to be intended for bomb-making, along with a notebook with formulas for preparing explosive devices and ISIS materials.
Prosecutors added that Mustafa had planned to carry out a terrorist attack by detonating a truck bomb filled with gas tanks near the Knesset, with the aim of murdering Jews and causing extensive damage.
The charge sheet also said that in October Natasha hung flags of the Hamas terror group in Ras Al-Amud for about a week.
The statement noted that over the past year, security forces had foiled dozens of attacks and attempted attacks in the Jerusalem area.
“The Israel Police and the Shin Bet will continue to work with all security forces to counter terrorism and arrest terrorists, with the aim of protecting the citizens of Israel,” the statement said.
Earlier in January, two East Jerusalem residents also linked to ISIS were arrested under similar circumstances, and were to be indicted for planning to carry out bombing attacks in the capital.
The pair, residents of the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood in East Jerusalem, allegedly intended to use explosive devices against security forces, according to police.
In October, three Arab Israelis allegedly affiliated with ISIS were arrested on suspicion of planning to carry out “terror activities,” the Shin Bet said. They were residents of Sakhnin and Arraba in the north of the country.
Last year, ISIS called for Arabs in Israel to carry out attacks throughout the country.
Security tensions have ramped up in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the shadow of the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza, sparked by the terror group’s October 7 massacres in southern Israel.
