Kindergarten in Jisr az-Zarqa Used as Weapons Cache
A space intended for children was used to store illegal weapons during the summer break. Police arrested the building's owner after discovering a pistol hidden in the attic.
A building used during the school year as a local council kindergarten in Jisr az-Zarqa turned, according to police, into a site for hiding weapons during the summer vacation. The building's owner, a local resident, was arrested after a pistol was found hidden in the attic. His detention has been extended until August 12.
The operation was carried out by the Coastal District Police in cooperation with Yasam Menashe officers and the Israel Prison Service's Dror unit as part of a targeted campaign against illegal weapons possession.
During a search of the kindergarten complex, forces discovered a bag containing hidden weapons. The suspect was arrested and taken in for questioning.
The investigation revealed that the suspect owns the building and rents it to the local council. Authorities suspect that once the school year ended and the kindergarten closed for the summer, the owner used the premises to hide a pistol in the roof.
The court granted the police request to extend the suspect's detention until August 12. Police officials emphasized that they view the use of educational facilities for criminal purposes with extreme severity and that efforts to locate illegal weapons will continue.
A senior police official told the Maariv newspaper:
"Criminal elements exploited a place that is supposed to be the safest for children and hid weapons there. For us, this is a red line; we will continue to act against these criminals and will reach them anywhere and at any time."
