An Israeli Arab from Tel Sheva has been indicted on suspicion of conspiring with an Al-Qaida agent to carry out terror attacks in Israel, security services announced Friday. According to the charges, 23-year-old Khaled Abu Karak, a former student of the Technological College in Beersheba, allegedly tried to set up a terror cell to perpetrate a suicide bombing. According to the allegations, Abu Karak allegedly began becoming closer to Islam in 2002, and during his college studies, he started to surf Internet sites affiliated with terror organizations. During his Web surfing, Abu Karak allegedly made contact with an Al-Qaida operative in Gaza, named on the charge sheet as Abu Balal, and the two discussed carrying out terror attacks. Abu Karak also allegedly downloaded films documenting attacks perpetrated by global jihad elements.
According to the suspicions, in 2004, he decided to set up a terror cell in order to plan and carry out suicide attacks inside Israel and downloaded instruction videos on preparing bomb belts. At one stage, the 23-year-old allegedly asked a fellow student at the college if he wanted to join the terror cell and carry out a suicide bombing at the Beersheba Central Bus Station. The fellow student turned down the request. In 2006, Abu Karak allegedly planned to make a bomb and plant it east of Tel Sheva at a location frequented by IDF jeeps. His supposed plan was never carried out.
Abu Karak was arrested on July 29 this year in a joint Israel Police and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) operation. He was arrested along his cousin, who was eventually released without charges two days ago. The suspect's lawyer denied the charges against his client.