Security forces said to nab Palestinian suspect in Ofra attack

Palestinian media reports say Israeli soldiers opened fire on car in West Bank town of Surda, critically injuring driver; 2nd individual said arrested; no comment from IDF

Israeli security forces arrested a Palestinian suspect sought over a deadly West Bank terror attack days earlier.

Salih Barghouti, a taxi driver from the West Bank town of Kobar, was shot and critically hurt during the arrest operation, according to Palestinian reports. A second person, named in reports as Waad Barghouti, was also arrested.

According to Hebrew media, Salih Barghouti was being sought for involvement in a drive-by shooting outside the settlement of Ofra Sunday night that left seven people hurt, including a pregnant woman who was seriously injured.

The reported arrests came hours after the death of a baby delivered in an emergency C-section to the pregnant Israeli, Shira Ish-Ran.

Amichai (left) and Shira Ish-Ran, wounded in a December 9, 2018, terrorist attack outside Ofra in the West Bank, are seen at their wedding (Courtesy of the family)

Troops had opened fire at a car Barghouti was traveling in on a road in the town of Surda, north of the West Bank city of Ramallah, where soldiers have been carrying out instensive searches over the past several days.

Waad Barghouti was arrested after coming to check the scene, Maan, a Palestinian news agency reported.

Salih Barghouti worked for the Rafideen taxi company, an employee at the company told the Times of Israel. The company is based in Ramallah.

He had worked the past three days, according to the employee, who asked to remain unnamed.

“Salih was shot and injured,” the employee said. “We don’t know if he died.”

Israeli forces also detained Alaa al-Tarifi, the owner of the Rafideen taxi company, but later released him, the employee at the company said.

#صور.. قوات الاحتلال تطلق النار صوب مركبة وتعتقل سائقها قرب بلدة سردا قضاء رام الله. pic.twitter.com/5axAi95Moa

— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) December 12, 2018

Kobar Mayor Ezzat Badwan confirmed to the the Times of Israel that Barghouti was from his village, which is also near Ramallah.

Security forces were said to be surrounding a home in the village belonging to Barghouti’s family following the arrest. Troops were also forming a cordon around a building in Ramallah, according to the official PA news site Wafa.

An IDF spokesperson refused to comment on the reports.

In security video showing the attack, a white car can be seen opening fire as it passes by the bus stop. A taxi traveling alongside the white car was thought to have been involved as well.

Following the announcement of the baby’s death, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel would find the “despicable murderers” behind the shooting.