The Israeli police and security forces stated on Tuesday that they managed to thwart what was described as a large suicide bombing, planned for Tel Aviv. Security sources reported that a Palestinian resident of the West Bank was taken prisoner, along with three other people, at a house in Bat Yam area.The Israeli police and security forces stated on Tuesday that they managed to thwart what was described as a large suicide bombing, planned for Tel Aviv. Security sources reported that a Palestinian resident of the West Bank was taken prisoner, along with three other people, at a house in Bat Yam area.
An Israeli online daily reported that the Israeli security and police received intelligence information from the Shin Bet security services about the location of the arrestees.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad said that the group planned that attack, and dispatched one of their members to execute it.
The Maan News Agency reported that it received a phone call from the Military Wing of the Islamic Jihad stating that the would-be bomber is one of their members, and that he intended to carry out a suicide bombing at a Mall in Hasharon.
The anonymous caller refused to identify the would-be bomber.
Israeli media stated that the potential bomber and the other Palestinians arrested with him were illegally residing in Israel.
They added that following the arrest, the man who is believed to be the would-be suicide bomber led the police to a location where he had a bag filled with explosives hidden.
The man is believed to be from Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank.
According to security sources in Israel, the bombing was planned for Tuesday evening at the Tel Aviv Central bus station. Yet, Israeli media said that it is still unknown why the would-be bomber hid the explosives in a trash bin in Rishion Letzion, near Tel Aviv, and return to Bat Yam without them.
Also, it is still unclear whether the other Palestinians who were taken prisoner knew about the intentions of the would-be suicide bomber.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli security and police raised the alert level in Tel Aviv, and placed dozens of roadblocks across Tel Aviv on Tuesday afternoon, especially in the southern part of the city.
