Military Police arrest machine-gun toting Palestinian teen, thwarting possible terrorist attack

15-year-old attempted to pass Shuafat checkpoint in Jerusalem armed with loaded weapon.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
The machine gun seized from Palestinian teen at a Shuafat checkpoint, June 29, 2015 (photo credit: BORDER POLICE)
The machine gun seized from Palestinian teen at a Shuafat checkpoint, June 29, 2015
(photo credit: BORDER POLICE)
Military Police arrested a 15-year-old Palestinian boy armed with a submachine gun who attempted to pass a Shuafat security checkpoint in northern Jerusalem during the early hours of Monday morning.
According to police, the unidentified teen entered the checkpoint shortly before 3 a.m. to gain passage to central Jerusalem.
When the suspect passed through a metal detector, officers found a light-weight automatic Carl Gustav machine gun concealed under his sweatshirt, jutting out of his pants waistline, police said.
Military Police Officer Corp. Daniel Malka then immediately disarmed the teen and placed him under arrest before he was transferred to a holding facility for questioning in Jerusalem.
The teen was later arraigned at Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court Monday morning, where a judge ordered him remanded for several days pending an investigation into how he procured the weapon, and if he had accomplices.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Gil Mamon, commander of the Military Police’s Erez Battalion, praised Malka for quickly disarming the suspect and averting a deadly scenario.
“The battalion works throughout the year with a goal of capturing terrorists and weapons, and preventing their entry into the State of Israel,” said Mamon.
“Battalion fighter Corporal Daniel Malka showed alertness and functioned with professionalism, as is expected of him, and we appreciate and are proud of that.”