Border Guard in J'lem Old City (Archives)
Photo: Reuters
Indictment: Palestinian planned stabbing attack in J'lem
According to indictment, Ramallah-area resident Rami Abu Diaa planned to stab soldier or religious Jew at Western Wall in chest with 18 cm commando knife. Plan was foiled thanks to alert Border Guard officers
Despite the relative calm, attempts to carry out terror attacks continue. Rami Abu Diaa, a 27-year-old resident of Bitunia, near Ramallah, was indicted on Friday for attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at the Western Wall some two weeks ago.
The Jerusalem District Prosecution is charging Diaa with attempted murder, possession of a knife, and residing illegally in Israel.
According to the indictment, filed by Attorney Ronen Yitzhak, Abu Diaa planned two weeks ago to murder an IDF soldier or religious Jew wearing a hat or side-locks at the Western Wall or somewhere else in Jerusalem's Old City.
The indictment details Abu Diaa's plot. He planned to seize his victim by the neck and stab him in the chest. To this end, he purchased a commando with an 18 cm blade in Ramallah.
He initially planned to carry out the attack at the Qalandiya Checkpoint, and stab one of the soldiers stationed there. He stayed at the checkpoint for some 15 minutes, but due to the security means and the fact that the soldiers were all wearing bullet-proof vests, he changed his mind and went home.
Hours later Abu Diaa arrived at two other checkpoints: Al-Ram and Jaba'a carrying the knife, but once again decided against the attack due to the various security measures.
According to the prosecution, the next day he managed to enter Israel without a permit and made his way to the Old City by bus, with the gun on his person.
As he scanned the area in hopes of locating his victim, he raised the suspicion of two Border Guard officers patrolling the area, and he was arrested.
