The Israel Police Counterterrorism Unit on Sunday apprehended four terrorists suspected of carrying out the deadly shooting that claimed the life of Yehuda Dimantman and left two others wounded near the Samaria community of Homesh. The arrest followed an intense, three-day manhunt that included IDF troops and Israel Security Agency operatives.
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The four suspects were detained in the village of Silat al-Harithiy in northern Samaria. Security forces also seized the weapon suspected of being used to carry out the terrorist attack.
Over the weekend, senior IDF officers said significant progress had been made in the search for the terrorists and estimated that their capture was imminent. The officers also expressed concern over additional attacks in the sector that could be "inspired" by the recent spate of attacks in Jerusalem and elsewhere.
IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ran Kochav told reporters over the weekend there was a "lead" regarding the terrorists' whereabouts. The defense establishment was still trying to determine whether Thursday's shooting was an organized attack, rather than a "lone-wolf" incident. The current belief is that it was likely orchestrated by a terrorist organization because a firearm was involved.
In addition to the arrests, security forces confiscated security cameras in Jenin and Nablus areas.
Commander of the IDF's Judea Samaria Division, Brig. Gen. Avi Bluth, said three entire battalions had been deployed to the area, along with special forces and various intelligence personnel.
+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dzEA2s5fNs
Bluth said that the attack was a well-planned roadside ambush and that dozens of bullets had been fired at the vehicle carrying Dimantman and his fellow yeshiva students.
"Recently, we've been carrying out major operations to thwart [terrorist attacks]. We'll get our hands on the cell not too long from now. We'll do everything possible to capture them as quickly as possible," Bluth said.
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