After a two-day manhunt, the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced Tuesday morning (Jan.19) that an Arab teenager was arrested on suspicion of murdering 39-year old mother of six, Daphna Meir.
The fatal stabbing attack occurred in the Jewish community of Otniel, located in southern Judea. The 15-year-old terrorist is alleged to have entered the community through a hole in the fence and then murdered Daphna Meir in her own home in front of three of her children.
After two days of intensive investigation by the IDF and the Shin Bet, a resident of the nearby Hebron suburb of Yatta was apprehended and taken in for questioning. Palestinian Authority sources named the suspect as Murad Bader Abdullah Adais.
The teen terrorist was dragged from his bed by the IDF’s elite Duvdevan unit, in the village of Beit Amra, about three kilometers from Otniel. The Judea Brigade also participated in the intensive searches for the murderer, who was transferred to Shin Bet investigators for interrogation.
During the investigation of the attack, it was discovered that a member of the suspect’s extended family was killed during an attempted terror attack about two months ago, sources said.
The defense establishment is currently looking into the possibility that the murder of Daphna Meir may in fact have been a revenge attack.
There was also similar stabbing attack the next day, Jan. 18 by a 15-year-old Arab inside the Jewish community of Tekoa, located in the Gush Etzion bloc. That teen terrorist stabbed and seriously wounded Michal Froman, a 30-year-old pregnant Israeli woman, before he was shot and killed.
Shortly after, the IDF’s Etzion Brigade Commander, Col. Roman Gofman ordered the removal of all Palestinian Authority Arab employees and customers from Jewish communities in the Gush Etzion bloc.
“I came this morning (Tues., Jan. 19) to the Meir family’s residence to tell them that the terrorist was captured,” said Yochai Damari, head of the Mount Hebron Regional Council.
“I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of all residents of Mount Hebron, to the IDF soldiers who pursued the terrorist for 36 hours (after the attack) and arrested him.
“We are not afraid, and as I previously said this will only strengthen us,” Damari added. “I call on the Israeli government to promptly respond by draining the swamp rather than simply removing the flies.”
Tazpit News Agency / TPS contributed to this report.