The alert passengers and driver on an Egged bus from Jerusalem to Kiryat Shmona prevented a mass murder shortly before 1:00 PM today. An Arab carrying a bag attempted to board the bus via the rear door but was instructed to enter up front. He immediately aroused the suspicion of the driver and others. Two soldiers jumped him and pinned him down, while distancing him from the bag. Police arrived at the scene and safely detonated the powerful three mortar shells that he was carrying.

In his interrogation, the teenage terrorist said that he was handed the explosives shortly before boarding the bus in the southern Beit Shean Valley. Police working with aerial units gave chase, in the course of which they shot and wounded one person.

- - This just in as we go to press: IDF soldiers spotted two Arabs placing an explosive device on the road to the IDF base on Mt. Eval, near Shechem. In the gun battle which ensued, an IDF bullet hit and detonated the roadside bomb, killing one of the terrorists, and wounding the other.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 3rd, 2001 and is filed under news.