ISRAEL: SECURITY ALERT OVER POSSIBLE TERRORIST ATTACKS

Описание: (13 Feb 2000) Natural Sound

Jerusalem and major cities throughout Israel are in a state of alert following intelligence reports that crowded places could be targetted by terror attacks.

Police and the army have been especially vigilant at checkpoints on the city boundaries.

They are stopping many more cars than usual, checking drivers' and passengers' identifications and searching for hidden explosive devices.

Security forces increased their numbers in many cities in reaction to the terror alert, which was not specific as to the time and place where attacks might be carried out.

It was unclear if the warning of terror attacks is related to a stalemate in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians over Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank.

In the Jerusalem Mall - the largest shopping mall in the country - armed soldiers were stationed at all entrances quizzing shoppers and searching bags.

It was a similar story at checkpoints outside most major cities.

Police have also been checking vehicles and speaking to drivers on a stretch of road at Burkin, near the West Bank city of Nablus, the scene of a car explosion last Thursday.

Palestinian police have arrested eight Palestinians since then for alleged involvement in the explosion.

Three of the suspects were later released.

According to Palestinian security officials, one Palestinian was killed and another injured in the blast, which is believed to have been an abortive terrorist attack on Israel.

Israeli security also arrested a Palestinian in connection to the explosion.

Israeli security officials have confirmed that the warning of terror attacks on Israeli cities and Jerusalem resulted from information extracted from the suspects in the car explosion.

Some of those arrested are allegedly members of the Islamic resistance group Hamas.

Hamas has carried out several deadly attacks in Israel in the past, although there has been none during the past several months.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...