Israeli Security Forces Arrest Arabian Man For Jerusalem Bus Stops Bombings (Photos)

A photo from the scene of one of the bombings in Jerusalem city on November 23. Source: the Israeli Police.

On December 27, Israel Security Agency, Shin Bet, announced that it had arrested an Arab Israeli man for the November 24 Jerusalem bombings.

The bombing which targeted two bus stops near entrances to Jerusalem city, killed two people, including a teenager, and wounded over 20 others.

The Shin Bet said that the suspect, 26-year-old mechanical engineer Aslam Froukh, planted and detonated the two bombs. According to the agency, Froukh, an Israeli resident of Kafr ‘Aqab in East Jerusalem who lived much of the time in the Ramallah area, committed the attack because of his affiliation with ISIS.

The suspect taught himself how to make the bombs from the internet. He reportedly planned to detonate another bomb as security and medical forces treated the casualties at the scene of the second attack, but ran into technical issues and did not end up planting it.

A few days after the attack, Israeli security forces found a cache near the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim containing several items apparently used by the suspect in the attack, including five pipe bombs, a motorized scooter, a helmet and clothes which used before, during, and after the attack. The items helped the Shin Bet identify Froukh.

Near the city Ramallah in the West Bank, security forces located the site where the suspect allegedly tested his bombs. Explosive materials, a makeshift “Carlo” submachine gun and a primed bomb similar to the ones used in the Jerusalem attack were found at the site. The Shin Bet said it suspected that Froukh planned to commit another attack using the weapons.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid hailed the arrest of Froukh, saying Israel would reach any one who would harm its citizens.

“As we promised — we got to him. Israel will reach any terrorist who harms its citizens, and will deal with them with the full severity of the law,” he added.

Prosecutors will reportedly file an indictment against Froukh in the upcoming few days, which will include murder and other terror charges.

Several Palestinian factions, including the Hamas Movement and the Islamic Jihad, praised the bombing in Jerusalem. However, none of them claimed responsibility.

Israeli claims of ISIS involvement are not surprising. In March, two Palestinian gunmen shot and killed two Israeli police officers in the northern city of Hadera. Back then, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. The terrorist group’s news agency, Amaq, even shared a photo allegedly showing the two perpetrators embracing in front of an ISIS flag before the attack.

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