The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Police's Northern District Central Unit arrested five Israeli Arabs in Daburiya, near Nazereth, for allegedly plotting to attack a Border Police officer and use his weapon to perpetrate terror attacks.
The five suspects, some of whom are students at the Technion Institute and Haifa University, were arrested before the release of the gag order, and are expected receive their indictments on Thursday. They were planning on attacking a Border Policeman who also resided in Daburiya, and then using the stolen weapon to attack other targets, including the police station in Daburiya.
The suspects' plot was thwarted by the Shin Bet and Israel Police while still in its planning phase. "A tragedy was thwarted; we knew they had plans for other terror attacks but we prevented them," Northern District Central Unit Commander Maj. Gen. Michael Shafshak said.
According to Shafshak, the suspects arrested were young, intelligent, graduates of institutions of higher education, and without any previous felonies. "They were very determined to carry out their plan," he said. One member said in his interrogation that he had intended to work at a government office and carry out a terror attack there.
The five belonged to a Salafi Islamist group, Salfiya Jihadiya. The Shin Bet and Israel Police's investigation began a few months ago and there are more suspects likely to be arrested in coming days with ties to the group.
The police have asked the courts to extend the suspects' arrest until the end of legal proceedings against them at the Nazareth District Court. The suspects are to be charged with intent to carry out terrorist attacks, assaulting security forces and illegal assembly.
