"I placed an explosive device near Netanyahu's house": The calls that kept the police on alert all night
Mahmoud Abd al-Majid from Iksal made 14 calls to the 100 emergency center, threatening to carry out attacks and claiming he had planted an explosive device near the Prime Minister's house. Additionally, he attacked two passengers on the Metronit in Haifa. He faces 14 counts of threats and assault.
The recording that alerted the police: For an entire night, 28-year-old Mahmoud Abd al-Majid from Iksal kept security forces on alert with 14 phone calls in which he threatened to carry out attacks. The climax was when he said, "I placed an explosive device near Bibi Netanyahu's house."
He was arrested by the Nazareth police, and after several days of investigation, an indictment was filed against him. Abd al-Majid is charged with 14 counts of threats, simple assault, assault causing actual bodily harm, and malicious damage to a vehicle. The indictment was filed by Adv. Avraham Bigman from the Emek District Prosecution. The police requested that he remain in custody until the end of the legal proceedings.
"On August 12, a prolonged series of 14 phone calls to the 100 emergency center began, all after midnight. The defendant identified himself by name and began issuing threats to carry out attacks against Jews, Arabs, and the Prime Minister. He added that he was armed with an M-16 rifle and a pistol, and that he was in the village of Iksal, waiting for a patrol car to arrive so he could attack the police officers," described Captain Tiraz Dala, an investigation officer at the Nazareth police.
"In another call, he said he had an explosive device and was about to arrive at the Haifa police station to carry out an explosion there. He told our dispatcher, 'If anyone wants to live, they should run from the station now.' He called again and announced that in 10 minutes there was going to be an explosion in Haifa and he had already planted the device," added Captain Dala.
"He started making the threatening calls from Iksal, and then traveled to Haifa. He rode the Metronit, approached one of the exit doors, took a trash can, and attacked one of the passengers for no reason at 06:17. He attacked him with his hands, knocked him down, and stripped him during the fight. He continued and attacked another passenger, then got off the Metronit and returned to Iksal by public transport. We arrested him after he returned home," she continued.
At the police station, Abd al-Majid refused a Jewish investigator and demanded to be interrogated only by an Arab investigator.
"Beyond the serious criminal aspect, this is a defendant who for hours harassed the 100 emergency center, whose purpose is saving lives and responding to emergencies. We treated all the phone calls with severity and seriousness and did everything to locate and arrest him. We will act with all means against any manifestation of violence, racism, or harm to the lives of citizens," concluded Captain Dala.
Adv. Abudi Fahoum, who represents the defendant on behalf of the Public Defender's Office, responded: "This is a regrettable case. Upon receiving the investigation materials, we will respond accordingly in court. The defendant's place is in rehabilitation, not in punishment. We will oppose detention until the end of the proceedings and will demand his release to an appropriate framework."
