Terrorist act thwarted in Israel - 2 October, 2002

According to a RIA Novosti correspondent, a road bag with a powerful explosive device was found at a gas station near the entrance to the Israeli city of Afula. Sappers neutralised the bomb by Wednesday morning.

The situation remains very tense both in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Israeli special services permanently receive warnings about planned terrorist acts, therefore tough curfew has again been introduced in many towns and villages of the West Bank.

Arrests of Palestinians suspected of terrorist implications are going on in the West Bank. It has been reported that arrests were carried out in Ramallah, Hebron and Tulkarm last night. About a dozen of Palestinians have been arrested and are being interrogated by the SHABAK security service.

Last night, Israeli bulldozers destroyed the house belonging to the family of Mohammad Basharat, a leader of the radical Islamic Jihad movement. During this operation, the Israeli soldiers and the Palestinians began a skirmish, no casualties reported. Another clash took place in the Arab village of Silat a-Hartia, to the west of Jenin. Nine Palestinians were reported to be injured.

Skirmishes took place in the Gaza Strip last night, too. One of them, near the Israeli Termite stronghold in Gaza's south, lasted for almost the whole night. Palestinians also used fragmentation grenades and smoke pots against the Israelis. No-one was injured.

Israeli soldiers detected three powerful explosive devices implanted on a road near the Gush-Qatif Jewish settlement block. Their total weight is 90 kg. Israeli army sappers neutralised the bombs.