Suspect Arrested in Arson Attack on Wastewater Treatment Facility Near Beersheba

Police arrested a suspect from the Bedouin community on Saturday in connection with the arson attack on the "Shuqat" wastewater treatment facility near Beersheba. The fire, which broke out in the facility's electrical room on Thursday night, is suspected to be criminal in nature. The facility has been shut down, causing approximately 30,000 cubic meters of raw sewage to flow into the Hebron River and subsequently into the Beersheba River. Repairs are expected to take several weeks.

The incident raises suspicions of a connection to extortion attempts in the area. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that recent demands for protection money from the corporation were not met, and the issue had been reported to the police. Following this, the demands reportedly ceased for a period, and investigators now suspect they may have resumed. The CEO of the corporation, Khaled, is reportedly under constant security due to these concerns. However, it has not yet been determined if the arson is linked to the extortion attempts, and this is a focus of the ongoing investigation.

Initial estimates suggest damages could reach millions of shekels, with repairs and restoration of the facility potentially taking a long time. The immediate concern is the continued flow of sewage down the river, creating a significant environmental hazard and impacting local residents. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has advised local authorities downstream, including Al-Qusaim, Omer, Bnei Shimon, Beersheba, and Eshkol, to inform residents of potential odor nuisances and to maintain distance from the river until the issue is resolved.