Jerusalem Police Find Large Weapons Cache Hidden in Children's Rooms During Search for Draft Dodger

During a search conducted yesterday in a Jerusalem residence, police uncovered a significant cache of weapons hidden throughout the home, including in children's rooms. The operation was carried out by officers from the Moriah Station in the Jerusalem district in cooperation with the military police, aiming to locate a young man in his 20s suspected of draft evasion. While searching, officers discovered a smoke grenade, which raised suspicions of additional weapons stored on the premises. Border Police dogs and bomb disposal experts were called to assist with a thorough search.

The search revealed dozens of weapons concealed in various rooms, including the playroom, parents' bedroom, and children's rooms. Confiscated items included 36 grenades of various types (18 of which were fragmentation grenades), a Kalashnikov rifle, a hunting rifle, explosive materials, bomb-making components, scopes, extensive ammunition including linked rounds, and other combat equipment. The homeowner, a Jerusalem resident in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of illegal weapons possession. The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extended his detention until Monday, July 6, to allow further investigation.

Police emphasized that the weapons found could have caused a severe disaster if mishandled, especially given their storage inside a residential home. Authorities also noted a recent trend of weapons leaking from conflict zones and the Israel Defense Forces, some ending up in criminal hands or used for security-related purposes. The police urged the public to report any suspicions of weapons possession to emergency number 100 and to avoid handling suspicious items until bomb disposal units arrive.