BICOM

A large terror attack was averted in Jerusalem yesterday, when security guards apprehended a Palestinian man in his twenties attempting to board the city’s light rail system armed with explosives and knives.

The incident unfolded at around 9am when security guards noticed a man with a backpack near the junction of Jaffa Street and Zion Square acting suspiciously. When they confronted him, the suspect, from the West Bank village of Beit Ula near Hebron, admitted to being armed. Security personnel searched him and found three pipe bombs and knives. Police sappers neutralised the explosives, but the area was cordoned off for a brief period, during which the light rail service was also suspended.

At a press conference, Jerusalem Police District commander Yoram Halevi said that a “large attack” had been prevented. He added:“The plan was seemingly to attack the light rail… Knives were also found in his bag, so it seems that the terrorist planned a mixed attack of explosions and stabbings.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said: “A large attack was prevented this morning thanks to the vigilance of Jerusalem’s light rail guards.”

He added: “Our message to the public is to continue as normal, be alert and never give in to terror. We must hunt down terrorists everywhere without compromise and without restraint.”

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said that security would remain heightened in Jerusalem.

Since a wave of Palestinian terror attacks began in October, at least 40 people have been killed. The attacks have largely consisted of individual stabbings and vehicle attacks. However, Jerusalem, in addition to being a major focus for the violence, has seen a number of more complex attacks during this period. In October, two assailants used guns and knives to kill three people on a bus in East Talpiot. One of the attackers was handed three life sentences last week. Meanwhile, in April this year a bus exploded in Jerusalem, injuring 21 people.