Disturbing recordings: The man repeatedly alerted police to attacks in Afula until he was caught | Exclusive
A 38-year-old bus driver from Ein Mahel was arrested on suspicion of making at least five false reports to the 100 emergency hotline about planned attacks in Afula, causing police forces to be dispatched and conduct fruitless searches. The motive for his actions remains unclear to investigators.
During a tense security period just before the holidays, a rumor of a planned attack in Afula was enough to put gardeners, assistants, and parents in the area under pressure. However, behind the rumors were false reports received by the police about an attack allegedly about to occur at the city's train station. The suspect, a 38-year-old resident of Ein Mahel who works as a bus driver, called the 100 hotline at least five times from the beginning of 2025 until the end of August 2026. Each time he provided different information: sometimes reporting a planned attack at the train station, sometimes at the central bus station, and presenting various stories about suspects and mysteries. Despite the different names and stories, all calls were made from the same phone number. Northern District police officers were dispatched to the scene each time, sometimes along with special forces, and conducted searches that yielded no findings. Yesterday the suspect was arrested and his detention was extended. He is suspected of providing false information classified as a crime. Police are still trying to understand what caused him to act this way.