Teen Arrested After Armed Man Report Sparks Manhunt Claims Innocence
Translated & summarized from N12 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 carrying out an attack. His attorney stated the boy is in distress due to past injuries from stray gunfire and wishes to leave his village. The incident triggered a large manhunt involving police and Shin Bet, and his detention was extended as the investigation into the weapon's origin continues.
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 is in distress from past stray gunfire injuries and wants to leave his village.
- The incident led to a large manhunt involving police, Border Police, and Shin Bet.
- An M16 rifle was found buried near the arrest site.
- The boy's detention was extended as the investigation into the weapon continues.
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. The attorney stated that the youth has a history of being affected by stray gunfire and wishes to leave his village, describing him as a "child in distress, not a security incident."
According to sources close to the suspect, he told them, "I love Israel, even my phone shows the Israeli flag. I didn't want to hurt anyone, I just want help." He reportedly explained that he was previously injured by stray gunfire several years ago and has felt unsafe in his village since, expressing a desire to relocate and start anew. His attorney corroborated this, stating the boy had repeatedly asked his family to move.
During a family argument last week regarding his desire to leave, the boy left home in emotional distress. His attorney's account suggests 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 placed it back before continuing towards Kafr Qara. The boy reportedly told associates that if he had intended harm, he would have acted, but "these are not my intentions."
Abu Asal refuted initial reports that the boy wore military uniforms or a mask, clarifying he wore a "nylon suit, the kind many young people in the area wear." The attorney also dismissed reports of a pipe bomb found during the search, stating it was discovered 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. The boy, upon waking, panicked, grabbed the weapon beside him, and fled. This triggered a large-scale search involving police, Border Police, and volunteer emergency teams, aided by helicopters. The Shin Bet provided guidance for his eventual arrest. An M16 rifle was found buried nearby, and a potential explosive device was also investigated. His detention was extended over the weekend as the investigation continues into the circumstances of the weapon's presence and the suspect's connection to it, with his defense team insisting on a personal crisis rather than a terror attempt.
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