Teen Arrested After Armed Man Report Sparks Manhunt Claims Innocence
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
A 17-and-a-half-year-old boy arrested in Kafr Qara after a report of an armed man claims he found a weapon by chance and had no intention of attacking. His lawyer stated the boy was previously injured by stray gunfire and fears living in his village. The teen reportedly told associates he loves Israel and wants to leave his village. His detention was extended as investigations continue into the weapon's origin and his alleged involvement.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A 17-year-old boy arrested in Kafr Qara claims he found a weapon by chance and had no terror intentions.
- The boy's attorney stated he was injured by stray gunfire years ago and fears living in his village.
- The teen reportedly told associates he loves Israel and wishes to relocate from his village.
- A manhunt involving police and Shin Bet led to the boy's arrest and the discovery of an M16 rifle.
- The boy's detention was extended as investigators examine the weapon's origin and his role.
A 17-and-a-half-year-old boy arrested in the village of Kafr Qara after a report of an armed, masked man in an olive grove claims he had no intention of carrying out an attack. His defense attorney, Nour Abu Asal, told N12 that the weapon found near his client was discovered by chance in a grove and does not belong to the boy. The teen told associates that he loves Israel and does not want to harm anyone, stating that he was previously injured by stray gunfire and has feared living in his village since.
According to his attorney, the boy was injured by stray fire three to four years ago and has repeatedly asked his family to move. A recent family argument led him to leave home in emotional distress. The attorney stated the boy was under the influence of cannabis when he went for a walk in a grove, found the weapon, believed it might belong to the army, and then put it back before continuing towards Kafr Qara.
"If I wanted to harm someone with the weapon I found, I would have had the opportunity, but those are not my intentions," the teen reportedly told associates. His lawyers deny initial reports that he wore military uniforms or a mask, stating he wore a nylon suit common among local youth. The attorney also dismissed reports of a pipe bomb found during the search, saying it was found elsewhere and unrelated to the suspect.
The incident began Friday morning when two civilians reported seeing a person lying in an olive grove near Kafr Qara, masked and wearing khaki clothing, initially believed to be an injured soldier. When the boy woke, he panicked, grabbed a weapon nearby, and fled. A large-scale manhunt involving police, Border Police, and civilian security teams ensued, with helicopters assisting the search. The boy was eventually apprehended with Shin Bet guidance.
An M16 rifle was found concealed in the ground near the arrest site, and a suspected explosive device was also investigated. The teen's detention was extended over the weekend. While the incident was initially investigated for security motives, his lawyers maintain it stems from a personal crisis, not an attack attempt. The circumstances of the weapon's presence and the suspect's connection to it remain under investigation.
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