Israeli authorities have thwarted a major terror plot involving seven East Jerusalem residents who allegedly planned high-profile attacks, including the assassination of an Israeli nuclear scientist and a central Israel mayor, officials announced today.
The operation, led by Israeli Police and Shin Bet security services, revealed a sophisticated network allegedly orchestrated by 23-year-old Rami Alian, who was allegedly recruited directly by an Iranian agent.
Over the course of two years, seven suspects received thousands of shekels for various activities, including surveilling potential targets, photographing strategic locations, creating provocative graffiti about Gaza hostages, and acts of vandalism in Jerusalem.
The most serious plot involved a planned assassination of an Israeli nuclear scientist. Alian was reportedly offered NIS 200,000 ($53,000) for the successful execution of the attack. Security forces intervened before the plan could be implemented. The group had also received orders to attack Israeli security personnel with grenades, though this plan was never executed.
During interrogation, Alian reportedly acknowledged his collaboration with Iranian operators, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza as motivation for his actions to harm national security.
This arrest comes just 24 hours after authorities announced the capture of a separate spy ring, highlighting increased counter-intelligence efforts in the region.