The city of Hebron, pictured here. Two brothers from the city were arrested for carrying out a series of sniper attacks in 2015. Photo: via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – Two Palestinian brothers suspected of multiple sniper attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces over the past few months were recently arrested, Israel’s Shin Bet security agency revealed Monday. Authorities believe the two were involved in attacks in which four Israelis were wounded.

The brothers—Nasser Faisal Mahmad Badawi, 23, who has known ties to the Palestinian terror group Hamas, and Akram Faisal Mehmed Badawi, 33, both residents of Hebron—were dubbed the “Hebron snipers” by the Israeli defense establishment. The Shin Bet said the brothers were found in possession of an improvised sniper rifle and other firearms.

According to authorities, the first sniper attack the brothers carried out took place on Nov. 6, 2015, when they met on the third floor of a building owned by their father, near the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, and fired at a group of Jewish worshippers. One man was seriously wounded and another was moderately wounded in the attack.

According to the Shin Bet, Nasser was arrested Jan. 9. While he was in custody, Akram carried out another shooting attack, which he told investigators was meant to deflect suspicion from his brother.