The Israel Police stopped a vehicle with nine Palestinians at the Kesem Interchange, near the central city of Rosh Ha’ayin, following a tip that an armed terrorist was making his way to the center of the country.
“The police have just stopped a suspicious vehicle on Route 6 near the Kesem Interchange, carrying nine illegal passengers who have been detained for questioning,” the Israel Police said in a statement.
“A chase was conducted due to a security-related suspicion, following a vehicle traveling from Jerusalem toward central Israel,” it stated. “All of its occupants have been arrested and will be transferred to investigation by the relevant security authorities, based on findings at the scene.”
Police sappers were said to be conducting searches of the suspect vehicle to rule out the presence of possible weapons or explosives.
According to Israel’s Channel 12 News broadcaster, security forces as part of the chase also set up roadblocks on Route 1, the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, near the country’s Ben-Gurion International Airport.
The police and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) deployed a “Tequila” rapid intervention team after the Palestinian infiltrators crossed the Jewish state’s pre-1967 lines from Samaria, the Hebrew outlet said.
Forces reportedly arrested the nine suspects with drawn weapons.
On Dec. 15, Israeli security forces set up roadblocks on Route 1 due to a suspected security incident. One Palestinian suspect was arrested and handed over to the Israel Security Agency for further questioning.
