The main suspect in the Beersheva terror plot told investigators he was taunted as a collaborator and wanted to prove his support for Hamas, according to a report by journalist Lai Aish. The cell initially planned a stabbing at a McDonald's in the central bus station but switched to a shooting after concluding a knife would not cause mass casualties. The decision to carry out the attack came after two members received a traffic ticket and amid increased police activity in the Negev.
New details from the interrogation of the main suspect in the Beersheva terror plot, reported Saturday evening by journalist Lai Aish, reveal that the suspect told investigators he was taunted as a "collaborator" and wanted to prove his allegiance to Hamas. The cell initially planned a stabbing attack at a McDonald's inside the central bus station, but switched to a shooting after concluding a knife would not cause mass casualties. The suspect said the decision to carry out the attack was accelerated after two members received a traffic ticket and amid increased police activity in the Negev. The police station in Segev Shalom was also considered a target.
On Friday, July 10, The Zioneer reported the arrest and indictment of four Bedouin Negev residents for allegedly planning a mass attack at the Be'er Sheva central bus station. Throughout the day, additional details emerged: the suspects assigned themselves roles including "commander" and "engineer," circulated Hamas propaganda, and shifted from a stabbing to a shooting plot. The Shin Bet confirmed the suspects were arrested at an advanced stage while in possession of weapons. The indictment later specified that one suspect had sought to establish a terror organization after the 2021 "Guardian of the Walls" operation and recruited an "engineer" who built an explosive device using online guides.
The Zioneer also reported on a separate Hamas cell planning an attack near Jerusalem, which was thwarted in a multi-day operation ending July 1, as part of broader security efforts. The investigation into the Beersheva cell is ongoing, and it remains unclear whether additional suspects are involved or if the cell had outside direction.
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