Beersheba terror suspect admits to 'wanting to blow up' nightclub dancers

Abdullah Gergawi, 20, from Shaqib al-Salam, was indicted Tuesday for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack near Beersheba's Forum nightclub. He told investigators he wanted to blow up people dancing there, regardless of their ethnicity. Gergawi admitted to searching YouTube for bomb-making instructions and attempting to create an explosive using lime, sulfur, and charcoal. He also joined ISIS-related groups on Signal and consumed extremist content since 2022.

Abdullah Gergawi, a 20-year-old from the Bedouin town of Shaqib al-Salam, was indicted Tuesday over an alleged plot to carry out a terrorist attack near the Forum nightclub in Beersheba. During interrogation, he admitted he intended to target people dancing at the venue, stating he wanted to blow up the people dancing there, whether they were Jews or Arabs. Gergawi was charged with several offenses, including contact with a foreign agent, providing services or means to a terrorist organization, preparing to carry out an act of terrorism, and training or instruction for terrorist purposes. He told investigators he searched YouTube for instructions on making explosives and attempted to create one using agricultural lime, sulfur, and charcoal. He said he found lime in his storage room, took 75 grams, and obtained sulfur from matches after failing to buy it in Dahariya and Bani Naim. He tried to ignite the mixture at his grandfather's house, producing a spark and smoke. According to the indictment, Gergawi began consuming ISIS-related content in 2022, later joined a small group on Signal where members discussed jihad, and deleted the app after the group shut down to avoid leaving traces.