According to a report, the two suspects arrested on suspicion of starting the wildfire that swept through the Samaria community of Havat Gilad are officers in the Palestinian Authority police force. Investigators are examining whether one of them threw a cigarette that caused the fire. The report is not yet confirmed.
Investigators are now examining whether a cigarette thrown by one of the two Palestinian suspects sparked the wildfire that swept through Havat Gilad, a new detail that emerged as the probe continues. The two suspects, both officers in the Palestinian Authority police force, were arrested overnight in a joint operation by undercover Border Police and IDF soldiers.
The identification of the suspects as PA police officers was first reported by Arab media outlets at 10:45 Jerusalem, citing unnamed sources. Minutes later, at 10:45, Israel Police officially confirmed the arrests in a statement, and The Zioneer reported at 11:31 Jerusalem that the operation was carried out by undercover Border Police and IDF soldiers. The suspects were transferred to the Judea and Samaria District Central Unit for questioning. The police confirmation followed unverified reports that the two were PA officers.
The fire, which broke out near the community of Kdumim and spread to Havat Gilad, destroyed dozens of buildings, as The Zioneer reported. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, and the cigarette link is unconfirmed. The investigation into the suspects' motives and the exact circumstances of the fire continues.
6 developments
- StrongPolice suspect arson in fire near Yitzhar, Samaria
- StrongExperts say fires in Judea and Samaria were not arson, one case likely from discarded cigarette
- DevelopingFarm owner's advocate claims police fabricated case in Samaria herd theft incident
- StrongExclusive: Border Police arrest two PA police officers for Samaria wildfire
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