Police investigators entered a residential building in the neighborhood of Hadar Ganim in Petach Tikvah on Tuesday, where they uncovered numerous improvised explosive devices that were being prepared. The owner of the apartment in which the explosives were found, an individual known to the police, moved to the neighborhood two years prior. He was immediately arrested by the police at the scene.

Six days ago, the owner was shot at, which caused residents in the neighborhood to panic. Moments later the owner left his home in his car. Residents reported the incident to the police as well as other suspicious activities that the owner was involved with. The owner was arrested on Tuesday morning and investigators have asked that he be remanded into custody. The explosive devices were dismantled by police sappers.

The building in which the man and the devices were found is home to 19 families, among them close to 100 children.

One local resident told BeChadrei Charedim that “The normally busy street was deserted after people found out about the explosive devices. People are now scared to leave their homes. They simply don’t know what will happen next. Last week there was shooting. This week there are bombs. People are legitimately frightened.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)