Israeli Police Seize Large Weapons Cache in Benjamin Area, Suspect Attacks Bomb Squad

Israeli police uncovered a significant weapons cache in the Benjamin region on Sunday during an operation by the inter-agency command in the Judea and Samaria district. A suspect in his twenties from Jerusalem, identified as a draft dodger, violently attacked police bomb disposal experts who were called to handle the seized arms. Following his arrest, dozens of people gathered at the scene attempting to disrupt police activity and prevent the suspect's detention.

The suspect was apprehended immediately after landing at Ben Gurion Airport and transferred for interrogation. Authorities plan to request an extension of his detention. About a month earlier, a large quantity of weapons was found in the suspect's family home in Jerusalem, where the suspect was absent and his father was detained. The discovery included 36 grenades of various types, including 18 fragmentation grenades, explosives, a Kalashnikov rifle, a hunting rifle, materials for assembling explosive devices, various sights, and substantial ammunition.

The weapons were hidden in multiple rooms of the house, including the playroom, parents' bedroom, and children's rooms. The presence of a smoke grenade raised suspicions of additional arms, prompting the deployment of Border Police dog handlers and bomb disposal experts from the Jerusalem district. The suspect's arrest and the large arsenal uncovered highlight ongoing security concerns in the region.