Bombing in Petah Tikva averted

Jerusalem Post ^ | Jun. 26, 2003 | MARGOT DUDKEVITCH

[yonif]

Security forces averted a suicide bombing in Petah Tikva on Wednesday morning. After receiving a tip, they nabbed the suicide bomber and his helper in Kafr Kasim, and found bomb hidden in a bag. Its detonation left a one-meter-deep crater in the road.

Officials estimated that the bomb contained 12 to 15 kilograms of explosives and shrapnel. The two terrorists are affiliated with Fatah's Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade in Nablus.

Meanwhile, Shin Bet officials said 60 warnings of planned terrorist attacks were received by the security establishment.

In Tubas in northern Samaria, the haredi Nahal unit arrested two Arabs from Acre and Jerusalem with a video camera containing footage of IDF bases. They were handed over to police for questioning to determine whether they were gathering intelligence for terrorist organizations.

Security forces went on high alert in the Sharon early Wednesday morning, due to reports of plans by terrorists to perpetrate a suicide bombing in one of the district's cities. Forces were reinforced, roadblocks were set up on main thoroughfares, and patrols were conducted along the Green Line.

Dep.-Cmdr. Erez Yeffet, of the central district Border Police, said a report of two suspects in Kafr Kasim was received at 7:30 a.m.

"I alerted the forces and we arrived at the village and received an updated report regarding the two, including details of their clothing," he told The Jerusalem Post. Within 10 minutes the first suspect was spotted walking down one of the roads in the center of the village.

"He fit the description and wore a back pack," Yeffet said. "We ordered him to place the bag to one side and lie down on the road and to take off his shirt and trousers to ensure he was not wired with a detonator."

The suspect carried out the orders, then Yeffet questioned him. "He told me he was in the village with another person and described him," he said. The suspect began to behave in a suspicious manner, Yeffet said, and he was asked what was in his bag. He told the officials it had books and clothes in it, and he was asked to empty it. There was nothing in the bag, but then a second bag was spotted behind a garbage bin, and the suspect was asked to open it.

"He refused, saying it belonged to his friend. We became concerned and we handed him over for investigation and alerted the sappers," Yeffet said.

As a police robot began to handle the bag, it exploded, he said. "The blast was deafening. There was a crater a meter deep in the road, and it also damaged nearby buildings and vehicles." Shortly after the blast, he was notified by the authorities that the suspect had admitted that he was on his way to perpetrate a suicide bombing in Petah Tikva.

Fifteen minutes later, border policemen found the second suspect near a row of coffee houses.

[yonif]

As a police robot began to handle the bag, it exploded, he said. "The blast was deafening. There was a crater a meter deep in the road, and it also damaged nearby buildings and vehicles." Shortly after the blast, he was notified by the authorities that the suspect had admitted that he was on his way to perpetrate a suicide bombing in Petah Tikva.

[xm177e2]

Israel right now is safer than it would be with a "ceasefire"

[American in Israel]

All a cease fire does is make it so the Arabs can kill without pursuit. That is why when ceasefires start there is sometimes a two day lull as they "pack their bags" and then all hell breaks loose, bombs everywhere.

I feel it is best not to cease fire till the enemy that is attacking you is dead. Leftists feel it is best to cease fire till you are dead.

Either way works.