Shin Bet and Israeli Police Foil Hamas-Linked Mass Shooting Plot Targeting Beersheva Central Bus Station

Israel Police and the Shin Bet said they arrested four residents of Segev Shalom, a Bedouin town in the Negev, on suspicion of plotting to open fire on the Segev Shalom police station and to carry out a mass shooting attack at Beersheba's central bus station, with an indictment served Friday morning 12. The joint investigation, run by the Southern District Police Major Crimes Unit with undercover Border Police Yamas South officers, spanned May and June and also uncovered an alleged plan to build terrorist infrastructure targeting security forces in Segev Shalom 12. Investigators said the case began after one suspect posted social-media content alleged to incite terrorism, which led them to a broader conspiracy among all four; the alleged ringleader told investigators he resolved to form the cell after the 2021 Jewish-Arab ethnic riots to target security forces 12. The Times of Israel reported the suspects had settled on firearms over knives on the assessment that blades would be insufficient for the planned attack 3, while police said some of the alleged activity started when several of the suspects were still minors 1. The Southern District Attorney's Office indicted all four at Be'er Sheva District Court for conspiracy to commit an act of terror and terror training, with the alleged commander additionally charged with incitement to terror and identifying with a terrorist organization 12.