Terror attack on train in northern Israel thwarted, manhunt launched

Police are on high alert and planning a record deployment of about 20,000 officers throughout the country.

By Aryeh Savir, TPS

An attempt to carry out a terror attack against a train in the north on Tuesday was thwarted, and Israel’s security forces have launched a manhunt for the culprit.

During the Rosh Hashana holiday, a terrorist placed an item on train tracks, intending for the first train running after the holiday to derail.

This act of terror had the potential to cause a major disaster with dozens of deaths and injuries.

The item was discovered and removed before trains resumed running after the holiday.

An Arab-Israeli suspect was detained near the scene and handed over for investigation on suspicion of placing an obstacle on railroad tracks between the cities of Akko and Karmiel, but he was released after being found unrelated to the attack.

The investigation continues; further details are under a gag order, the police stated.

Israel’s security forces are on high alert. At a meeting earlier this month, Prime Minister Yair Lapid was presented with about 70 concrete warnings of plans by terror organizations to carry out attacks in Israel during the High Holiday season.

During Rosh Hashanah, police worked to quell Arab violence in eastern Jerusalem, including the Old City and the Temple Mount.

Police are planning a record deployment of about 20,000 officers who will be stationed all over the country, with a focus on Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria.

World Israel News contributed to this report.