Israeli police announced Tuesday the arrest of a suspect believed to be responsible for two bus station bombings that killed two people and injured more than 20 last month, including two Americans.
A joint investigation by Israeli police, security forces and the Israel Defense Forces led to the arrest of Aslam Faruch, 26, a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem. Police said the suspect harbors a Salafi-jihadist ideology that is linked to the ISIS terrorist organization.
Faruch, a mechanical engineer by training, is accused of orchestrating the attacks that occurred on November 23, when bags of explosives were remotely detonated at two bus stations, according to Israeli police. The bombings were condemned by world leaders, with US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides calling the blasts “cowardly terror attacks.”
Two Israeli citizens, Tadasa Tashume Ben Ma’ada and Arye Shechopek, were killed in the blasts.
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Israel Police announced the arrest of mechanical engineer Aslam Faruch, 26, accused of carrying out two bombings at bus stations that killed two people and injured more than 20.
(Israeli Police)
Israeli police inspect the scene of an explosion at a bus stop in Jerusalem, Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Two explosions occurred near bus stops in Jerusalem, killing one person and injuring at least 14, in what which the Israeli police said was suspected. Palestinian attacks.
(AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Israel’s i24 News reported that Faruch was originally detained on November 29, but his arrest has not been cleared for publication until now due to a gag order.
Faruch allegedly fled the scene of the attacks on a motorized scooter and hid in a cave in the Judean desert, where an explosive device was also discovered.
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Investigators recovered pipe bombs and a firearm. DNA evidence linked Faruch to the bombings, according to Israel Police.
(Israel Police)
Police recovered evidence linking the suspect to the November 23 bombings during his arrest.
(Israel Police)
Investigators said Faruch was unknown to Israeli anti-terror agencies before his arrest. DNA evidence linked it to evidence discovered at the scene of the bombings, The Jerusalem Post reported. Another suspect was arrested and charged with planning another terror attack with an explosives belt, according to police.
“As part of the investigation, more suspects were arrested. It was revealed that one of the suspects was planning to carry out a separate terror attack in the area of the central bus station in Jerusalem,” Israeli police said. “The suspect’s arrest frustrated his intentions.”
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Members of the Zaka Rescue and Recovery team clean blood from the scene of an explosion at a bus stop in Jerusalem, Wednesday, November 23, 2022.
(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid praised the authorities for Faruch’s detention in a statement.
“After an extensive intelligence and investigative effort, the security forces have arrested the reprehensible terrorist who carried out the double bombing in Jerusalem. I closely monitored this complex investigation and was kept up to date on its details. I congratulate the ISA, the Police of Israel, the IDF and all security forces for their investigation that led to the arrest of this terrorist,” Lapid said.
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“As promised, we found it,” he added. “Israel will find all terrorists who attack our citizens and deal with them to the fullest extent of the law.”
