J'lem: Police preparations in response to terror alert halt

Earlier in day police increase patrols in capital, conduct police checks in light of terror warning; 17 year-old stabbing victim's condition improves.

By MELANIE LIDMAN
Border Police forces 311 (R) (photo credit: Ammar Awad / Reuters)
Border Police forces 311 (R)
(photo credit: Ammar Awad / Reuters)
Police preparations in response to a terror alert in Jerusalem were halted Monday afternoon, and intelligence units continued to manage the situation.  Earlier on Monday afternoon Police raised the terror alert in the capital in response to specific intelligence of a possible terrorist attack. As helicopters hovered overhead, a temporary command center was established near the International Convention Center (Binyanei Hauma).
Police also stepped up patrols in Jerusalem and traffic was halted in many areas due to police checks. "This was specific information we received, and police are responding immediately in order to maintain public safety," said National police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
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The heightened alert comes just two days after a stabbing attack in Jerusalem's Ramot neighborhood on Saturday afternoon that left 17-year-old Yehuda Ne'emad in serious condition. It was just one of three incidents involving stabbing attempts or attacks in five days.
On Sunday, a Palestinian armed with a 14- centimeter knife was arrested by Border Police at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Jerusalem, who said he had intended to launch a knife attack on Israelis on the site.
Last Wednesday, a Palestinian woman was arrested at the Gush Etzion Junction after charging at a group of soldiers and civilians waiting at a bus stop and brandishing a knife while yelling “Death to Jews!” There were no injuries.
A defense source said the security establishment was not viewing the recent stabbing attempts and incident as a coordinated wave of attacks.
“They’re not planned or directly related,” the source said Sunday.
Jpost.com staff contributed to this report