An explosive vest designed for use in an imminent suicide terrorist attack was found last night in a mosque in the Israeli-Arab city of Taibe. The lethal device was to be detonated by two Islamic Jihad terrorists who were caught on their way to carry out the attack. The explosives pack was found in a bathroom of the mosque where 1,500 worshippers often attend Friday services. Police sappers worked for several hours to remove it from the building and detonate it safely outside.
The two terrorists were caught while traveling in a PA taxi north of Shechem early yesterday evening. The region from Netanya to Um el-Fahm had been placed on high alert in light of intelligence warnings of a possible terrorist infiltration. Staffers in the Prime Minister's Office said that the hiding of the explosives in a mosque is an "extremely grave development" that shows the "extraordinary lengths the Palestinian terrorists are ready to go to in order to kill as many Israelis whenever and wherever possible."
The two terrorists were caught while traveling in a PA taxi north of Shechem early yesterday evening. The region from Netanya to Um el-Fahm had been placed on high alert in light of intelligence warnings of a possible terrorist infiltration. Staffers in the Prime Minister's Office said that the hiding of the explosives in a mosque is an "extremely grave development" that shows the "extraordinary lengths the Palestinian terrorists are ready to go to in order to kill as many Israelis whenever and wherever possible."