Stabbing attack foiled: Jerusalem Police catch terror suspect on light rail

Israeli police successfully thwarted a stabbing attack in central Jerusalem after a suspicious individual was caught carrying a knife and a passage encouraging Jihad on a light rail train. An indictment was filed Monday against the suspect, a resident of Jerusalem’s Shuafat neighborhood, who admitted he had planned to stab Jewish civilians.

The attempted attack occurred about two weeks ago during night-time hours. An off-duty officer from the David Precinct, stationed near a light rail stop in Jerusalem’s city center, noticed the man behaving suspiciously. According to police reports, the suspect was moving aggressively among the passengers, pressing up against them, closely observing their movements, and inspecting the weapons of the light rail’s security guards, actions that immediately raised red flags.

Reacting quickly, the officer, alongside the rail security team, approached and searched the individual. They discovered a concealed knife hidden in his clothing. Additionally, they found in his possession a passage from a book titled "The Jihad," which glorified acts of violence carried out by so-called “messengers of God” and promised them heavenly rewards.

During his initial interrogation, the suspect openly confessed that he intended to carry out a stabbing attack targeting Jewish civilians. Further investigation by the Jerusalem District Central Unit revealed that the knife was stolen earlier that evening from a shop in East Jerusalem before the suspect boarded the train. It was also uncovered that this individual had previously expressed the desire to commit acts of terror.

The Israel Police emphasized that the vigilance and rapid response of the off-duty officer and security personnel were critical in preventing what could have been a deadly attack. Their actions saved lives and once again underscored the constant threat of terrorism faced by Israeli citizens.

Authorities praised the successful foiling of the attack and reiterated their commitment to maintaining a strong security presence to protect all civilians from acts of terror.