"Great anxiety": A patient at the Yokneam social services office is accused of attacking a security guard with a knife

An indictment was filed on Tuesday against a 37-year-old resident of Yokneam. According to the charges, the man arrived at the city's social services office, refused to undergo a security check at the entrance, and subsequently lunged at a security guard with a drawn knife. A police officer who was already on the scene managed to intervene, push the suspect away, and place him under arrest.

The indictment, filed by Captain Ortal Hamo of the Amakim prosecution office to the Nazareth Magistrate's Court, charges the defendant with making threats, illegal possession of a knife, and obstructing a police officer in the line of duty.

According to police reports, on July 14, the 100 emergency center received a call regarding a disturbance at the social services office. A patrol team arrived and began questioning the security guard. During the interview, the suspect appeared, spotted the guard, and lunged at him with the intent to cause harm. The officer present intervened, causing the knife to fall from the suspect's hands before making the arrest.

Staff Sergeant Maor Goldenberg, an investigator at the Migdal HaEmek police station, stated:

"There is no doubt that had it not been for the speed of the officer's reaction, the guard would have been stabbed. During the incident, the social services staff were in a state of great anxiety, with some locking themselves in rooms for fear of their lives. It is our duty to protect public servants, and we managed to prevent a serious attack."

During interrogation, the suspect admitted to making threats but denied arriving with a drawn knife. Attorney Wassim Daher, representing the defendant, responded:

"This is a defendant with a known medical background; he denies the charges and is someone who requires rehabilitative treatment."