close
close

topicnews · October 13, 2024

Court indicts suspects in Azrieli Towers terror attack – Israel News

Court indicts suspects in Azrieli Towers terror attack – Israel News

Charges were filed in the Lod District Court on Friday against five Taybeh residents suspected of plotting a bomb attack on the Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv.

The case was released for publication on Thursday after an undercover investigation lasting several weeks.

The defendants are Sajed Masarwa (27), Mahmoud Azzam (24), Ibrahim Sheikh Youssef (34), Abdullah Baransi (26) and Abd al-Karim Baransi (27). According to suspicion, the group’s leaders, Azzam and Sheikh Youssef, follow ISIS ideology and recruited three other residents of Tayibe into the network: Sajed Masarwa, Abdullah Baransi and Abd al-Karim Baransi.

When she was arrested, various weapons were found in her possession. During their interrogation, it emerged that the suspects had watched videos online of bombings in Syria and discussed the amount of explosives needed to bring down the Azrieli Towers.

The suspects’ lawyers and the prosecution discussed some of the charges, particularly those related to the suspects’ identification with the organization.

Discussion on the charges before the Lod District Court. October 11, 2024. (Source: via walla!)

The suspects met at the mosque and some discussed joining ISIS. Lawyer Shua’a Mansour, who represents two of the suspects, said: “The suspect only thought about joining.”

The prosecutor’s statement said: “As part of the defendants’ activities in the organization, they viewed ISIS publications on social media, consumed the organization’s news, shared content, expressed support for the organization and its ideology, and some of them swore allegiance to ISIS.”

“The defendants watched videos showing, among other things, the making of explosive devices and the preparation of explosives, and one of them stated that out of anger over a statement from “he blew up the Azrieli Towers with a car bomb “would blow up”. [National Security] Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on the construction of the Third Temple in Al-Aqsa,” the prosecution stated.

In June 2024, one of the defendants decided to form a military cell with the aim of carrying out attacks in Israel, disguising the cell under the guise of a group studying Islam. In this context, two defendants conspired to carry out an attack in Israel in the name of IS with the aim of causing as many civilian deaths as possible.

“They discussed the amount of explosives needed to bring down the towers and how the truck bomb would be positioned next to the towers’ supporting pillars in the parking lot to allow the explosion and the high temperature it would produce “This would cause the pillars to melt.” This caused the towers to collapse, thus maximizing the damage caused by the attack,” the statement said.

Stay up to date with the latest news!

Subscribe to the Jerusalem Post newsletter

“Suspects surprised by allegations”

Mansour remarked Walla“These are allegations that surprise the suspects, as they are ordinary people with no criminal record who work on construction sites to earn a living.” The main suspect I represent regretted the idea half an hour after it was presented to him and said, “I’m not involved.”

“After the arrest, I met with Baransi. He was in shock and in complete disbelief, especially after being interrogated by the Shin Bet (Israeli secret service) in their facilities,” he further claimed, adding: “The two I represent had no contact.” “The arrest requests did not mention any contact with a foreign or enemy organization, meaning there was no contact with ISIS members outside the country,” he said.

On the weapons reportedly found in the possession of the suspects, he said: “If weapons were found, it could be a case of gun possession, but not as reported. There was discussion about the idea and regret about its implementation.” ”



You may also like...