Two terror attacks averted in the past six weeks, army says [View All]

[Gimel]

Two terrorist attacks were averted in the last six weeks, the security services indicated on Monday. One, in mid-December, was prevented by an alert taxi driver who was driving the bombers into Israel. The second was uncovered when security forces two days ago discovered two explosive charges in Nablus that were ready to use.

On Friday, December 13, Muhammad Abu Leyl, 18, from the Balata refugee camp near Nablus, and Ahmed Abu Havila, a 22-year-old Tanzim activist from Nablus, left Balata. Abu Leyl was carrying a bag containing 10 kilograms of explosives, nuts and bolts. The two told investigators their target was a restaurant in central Petah Tikva.

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The two traveled from Balata to Kafr Qasem, close to the Green Line in the central Sharon, where they knew it would be easter to cross into Israel because the separation fence has not yet reached that area. It was only after they reached Kafr Qasem, in the afternoon, that Abu Layl told Abu Havila that he was carrying an explosive charge.

The two began to look for a taxi driver who was known to drive illegal workers into Israel to take them across the Green Line. They eventually found an Israeli Arab to drive them and asked him to take them to Ramat Gan.

Shin Bet security agents say the pair chose Ramat Gan, despite its distance from Petah Tikva, because they were not familiar with the country, and because Abu Leyl had once worked in a bakery there.

Ten minutes into the trip from Kafr Qasem to Ramat Gan, a specific terror alert was issued in the Sharon region. When he noticed the road blocks and the large number of police in the area, the taxi driver's suspicions were aroused and he ordered his passengers to show him what they had in their bag in the trunk of the car. When he discovered the explosives, he drove the two back to Kafr Qasem and let them out.

The driver tipped off police about the planned terror attack and the IDF arrested the two in Azun village in the West Bank. Shortly afterward, one of them led police sappers to where they had buried the explosive charge and they blew it up.

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The wall is forcing limited access, even thou it is not yet complete. The vigilance of the Israeli Arab taxi driver prevented this attack.