Route 443 checkpoint
Route 443 checkpointFlash 90

Shin Bet, IDF and Israel Police forces broke up a terror cell based in the Palestinian Arab village of Beit Ur al-Tahta in Samaria responsible for a string of attacks against Israeli traffic along Route 443, it has been cleared for publication.

Several terrorists were arrested during an extensive operation in and around the village in the Binyamin Region, north of Jerusalem.

Attacks carried out by the 12-man cell - among them several minors - included numerous rock and firebomb attacks against both civilian vehicles traveling along Route 443 and Israeli security forces stationed near their village.

Investigators have tied them to six separate such attacks.

In some instances, the group organized ambushes for security forces, drawing them close to the village and then launching concerted attacks.

Under interrogation, it was revealed the decision to set up the terror cell was in part motivated to avenge the death of Ibrahim Alaan, a resident of Beit Ur al-Tahta who was killed while carrying out - together with an accomplice - an attack on a mall in Beit Horon which killed Israeli woman Shlomit Krigman and left another woman seriously wounded.

Several of the arrested cell members have been indicted on multiple terror charges, while others are still awaiting their imminent indictments.