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“The entire State of Israel thanks you for your heroism. You saved many lives. I don’t want to think what would have happened if you hadn’t been nearby,” Lapid said.
By Terri Nir, United with Israel
Officers from the elite Yasam anti-terrorism unit thwarted a multi-victim terror attack while patrolling in Tel Aviv-Yafo Thursday.
Master Sergeant Muhabou Mengistu and Sergeant Major Sharif Hasson noticed a suspicious person near the Jaffa Clock Tower and took him for questioning.
The 19-year-old terrorist — a Palestinian who had entered Israel illegally and who had just been released from a four-month prison sentence for bringing a knife onto the Temple Mount in Jerusalem — was carrying a Carlo submachine gun and two pipe bombs filled with nails. During questioning by the Shin Bet security agency, he admitted that he was planning a massacre.
“He was looking to commit a massacre,” Police Chief Kobi Shabtai told reporters at the scene. Shabtai thanked the officers for “preventing a huge and deadly terror attack.”
“We were in Jaffa, we identified a suspicious person, stopped him and while we were checking him he admitted that he was in Israel illegally, didn’t have any papers or ID,” Hasson told the journalists.
“He had a bag, and there was something metal poking out. The bag was heavy, really heavy. While checking the bag we saw it was a gun. We told the guy to get on the floor, that he was under arrest.”
Another suspect in the area was also detained.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid – together with Tel Aviv anti-terrorism unit commander Chief Superintendent Yair Hanuna and Tel Aviv District Deputy Commander Assistant Commissioner David Filo — met with Hasson and Mengistu Thursday evening and commended them for their alertness and for their determined and swift action.
“The entire State of Israel thanks you for your heroism. You saved many lives. I don’t want to think what would have happened if you hadn’t been nearby,” Lapid said.
“Thanks to the work of the Israel Police and the security forces, the citizens of Israel can sleep soundly. I’m proud of you all.”
The officers will receive certificates of appreciation from the Prime Minister for their action.
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