Israeli police arrested Walid Farouq, a 49-year-old Palestinian Authority resident employed by the Palestinian Preventive Security (the Palestinian Shin Bet), on suspicion of kidnapping a regular IDF soldier on criminal grounds. According to police, Farouq and an accomplice allegedly handcuffed and blindfolded the soldier in Be'er Sheva, took him into the West Bank, threatened him, and left him bound and bruised. The soldier freed himself and was returned to Israel via the Palestinian police; the Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court extended Farouq's remand by four days.
This morning, Israeli police announced the arrest of Walid Farouq, a 49-year-old Palestinian Authority resident employed by the Palestinian Preventive Security apparatus (often referred to as the Palestinian Shin Bet), in connection with the kidnapping of a conscripted IDF soldier. The arrest was first reported by ynet.
As The Zioneer reported earlier today, a suspect had been taken into custody. New details provided by the police identify Farouq as the alleged perpetrator. According to the police investigation, Farouq and an accomplice approached the soldier in Be'er Sheva, handcuffed and blindfolded him, then transported him to the West Bank. They allegedly threatened him before leaving him bound and bruised in an open area. The soldier managed to free himself and was taken to a Palestinian police station, from which he was returned to Israel.
The Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court extended Farouq's remand by four days Friday. Police describe the motive as criminal, not terrorist. The case remains under investigation.
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