Jerusalem terrorist's relatives were aware of his intentions, police suspect

Jerusalem court extends by a week the remand of 5 members of the attacker's family.

By ALON HOCHMON
Updated: JANUARY 9, 2017 18:33
Site of fatal ramming attack in Jerusalem. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Site of fatal ramming attack in Jerusalem.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Suspicions have arisen among police that several family members of the terrorist who carried out Sunday's deadly truck-ramming attack in Jerusalem were aware of his intentions to target Israelis.
Meanwhile, a Jerusalem court on Monday extended by seven days the remand of four brothers and a cousin of the perpetrator of the attack, Fadi al-Qanbar.
Israeli security forces arrested the terrorist's five relatives during raids as part of the investigation into the attack that killed four IDF soldiers and wounded 17 others. Following the attack, Israel sealed off the east Jerusalem neighborhood Jebl Mukabar, where Qanbar had been a resident.
Jerusalem Terror Attack: Footage of truck ramming into group of people in Armon Hanatziv, Jan. 8, 2017
Authorities were further investigating whether the attacker's family members had taken any part in aiding or planning the deadly truck-ramming, or whether they had attempted to dissuade him of his murderous intentions.
Two suspects arrested during Israeli sweeps, including Qanbar's sister, were released from police custody on restrictive conditions Sunday.
The terrorist was shot and killed shortly after he plowed into a group of Israeli soldiers disembarking from a bus in the capital's Armon Hanatziv neighborhood.
On Sunday, another relative of Qanbar's told Israel Radio that he had not been a member of a “militant” organization or a violent person.
In contrast, a number of Palestinian media outlets reported that Qanbar had served time in Israeli prison.
In the most recent wave of Arab violence, many attackers have planned and undertaken attacks without organizational backing.
Qanbar’s sister, who learned of her brother’s death on social media, told a group of reporters in Jebl Mukaber that her brother was married and had two daughters and two sons.
She praised him for carrying out the attack.
“Praise God. Our Lord chose martyrdom for him. He went out without warning [us] and without [the support of] a group... He was on his own. Our Lord chose him,” Qanbar’s sister told the Al-Quds News Network, a Palestinian news site.
Meanwhile, Hamas welcomed the attack minutes after it took place, calling it “heroic.”
The Palestinian Authority and Fatah have yet to comment on Sunday’s attack.
Adam Rasgon and Jpost.com Staff contributed to this report.