Illustrative: Israeli officials work at the scene of a Palestinian terrorist attack in Jerusalem, Nov. 30, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

i24 News — Israel Police and the Shin Bet internal security agency foiled terror attacks planned by two suspects from East Jerusalem who supported the Islamic State (ISIS), a new press statement disclosed on Thursday.

According to the statement, the arrested terrorists planned to prepare charges and explosive devices for use against the Israeli security forces, but the police and the Shin Bet were able to stop the attack before it could happen.

The investigation began at the Shin Bet, along with the police’s Jerusalem district, on suspicions that ISIS supporters intended to carry out bomb attacks. As such, detectives arrested a 23-year-old suspect from Jebel Makbar in East Jerusalem and then his friend, a 21-year-old resident of the same neighborhood.

According to the investigation’s findings, the two suspects began supporting the ideology of ISIS after viewing content by the terrorist organization via the internet, particularly on Telegram, including gore content and videos of executions.

Influenced by the terrorist organization’s media, the two planned to carry out terror attacks. Prior to their arrest, the suspects began preparing and learning about how to prepare explosive charges. But the plans were revealed by the police and Shin Bet before they could be carried out.

In addition, one of the suspects will have a pedophilia investigation opened against him after underage material was found on his phone during a search related to the terror charges.

“In the past year, the Jerusalem District Police and the Shin Bet foiled dozens of attacks and attempted attacks in the Jerusalem area, in a variety of ways, both thanks to activity on the intelligence and investigative level and thanks to the vigilance, professionalism, and quick response of the Jerusalem District police officers and security forces operating in the various sectors,” the joint statement concluded.