Report: Israel Police failed to notify security forces of kidnapping

Police respond saying they are focusing solely on search efforts; cannot confirm or deny any accusations due to the large amount of information surrounding the case at the moment.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
IDF trooops in Hebron on June 14, 2014. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN'S OFFICE)
IDF trooops in Hebron on June 14, 2014.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN'S OFFICE)
Israel Police are being accused of failing to promptly notify security forces of the abduction of three teenage boys late Thursday night, according to several local media outlet.
Israel Radio said police received reports of the kidnapping on Thursday night, but search efforts did not begin until 6 a.m. on Friday morning, a difference of about eight hours.
Police could not confirm or deny media reports, although they released a statement saying they are only focusing on the investigation at the moment.
"There are many details regarding the abduction, so at this point in time, we cannot confirm or deny any details. We are focusing on the search efforts, in coordination with the IDF and Israel Police."

The three teenage boys, Naftali Frankel, Gilad Shaar, and Eyal Yifrach, 16 and 19 years old, were kidnapped in the West Bank after they went missing from a hitchhiking spot in the Gush Etzion area Thursday night. Frankel is a dual American-Israeli citizen. 

Security forces are conducting sweeping searches of the area.