Israel Police and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced Friday morning that indictments will be filed against two Israeli Arabs, a 16-year-old minor and a 19-year-old Haifa resident, on suspicion of swearing allegiance to ISIS and planning terror attacks against security forces.
According to Israel Police and the Shin Bet, one of the suspects planned to attack police officers and soldiers on the Temple Mount, while the other planned an attack on an IDF base in northern Israel.
The minor, a resident of the Galilee, was arrested on August 4 in a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the Israel Police Northern District Central Unit. According to investigators, the minor had made contact with and swore allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group.
During his interrogation, it became clear that the minor had begun viewing and searching online for content that included instructions for making explosive belts. The investigation also found that he intended to carry out a terrorist attack against Jewish police officers and soldiers on the Temple Mount.
Several days after his arrest, and following developments in the investigation, 19-year-old Haifa resident Ibrahim Ka'abiya was arrested. Ka'abiya was also suspected of swearing allegiance to ISIS, and his interrogation revealed that he had planned to carry out an attack at an IDF base in northern Israel.
Upon conclusion of the investigation concluded, the Haifa District Attorney's Office is expected to file indictments against the two suspects Friday morning with the Haifa District Court. A request to keep them in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings will also be filed.
The Shin Bet and police said they take very seriously the involvement of Israeli citizens in activities that endanger the security of the State and its citizens, and will use all means at their disposal to bring those involved in such activities to justice.