Two Youths Set to Explode Rehovot

"Two youths, ages 17 and 19 from Rehovot were arrested early Sunday for trying to blow up a gas canister in Rehovot Friday morning. What could have become a disaster was narrowly averted when firefighters arrived on the scene and put out the fire, which would have caused a massive explosion, causing widespread injuries and probably deaths. The large canister supplies cooking gas to two adjacent apartment buildings, in which some 300 people live, Israel Radio reported.

Inciting material and weapons munitions were found during a police search of the suspect's residence. Police officials said that the incident was being treated as an attempted terrorist attack. The perpetrators had spray-painted anti-Sharon and anti-disengagement slogans on the premises

Meanwhile, in Sa-Nur in northern Samaria, five youths also resorted to attempted arson in their protests against the pullout from the Gaza Strip. The five targeted a Palestinian-owned gas station in the settlement.

Although they didn't manage to ignite it, they caused significant damage.

The gas station had been closed for three days by police order, out of fear that violence would erupt during the evacuation.

The Sa-Nur spokesman reported that the would-be arsonists were not from Sa-Nur. Residents of the settlement forced the youths to leave, telling them that anyone using such tactics was not welcome there."

Source: Two arrested for Rehovot bomb plot. JPost.com (21 August 2005) [FullText]