The terrorist, who killed four people in Beersheba, was under surveillance by Shin Bet at the time of this week’s stabbing and autoram attack, Israeli television reported Wednesday.
Mohammad Ghaleb Abu al-Qi’an, 34, killed two women and two men in an attack in the southern city on Tuesday before being shot dead by armed civilians. A former schoolteacher from the Bedouin town of Hura, he was previously in prison for plotting to join the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria.
According to Channel 12 news, the Shin Bet spotted no sign that Abu al-Qi’an was planning an attack and also believed he had softened his earlier views.
The uncredited report said the lack of any prior indication that Abu al-Qi’an intended to carry out an attack reinforced the security firm’s assessment that he had acted alone, but noted that investigators were still checked whether his brothers knew of his plans or helped him.
Police arrested two of his brothers after the attack on suspicion they knew his intentions and failed to prevent an act of terrorism. The two have reportedly denied knowing about or supporting Abu al-Qi’an’s plans.
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Walla news site reported separately on Wednesday that there is growing belief among security officials that Abu al-Qi’an failed to inform his family and made the decision to carry out the attack shortly beforehand.
Citing unnamed security sources, the report noted that security services face further restrictions on their ability to monitor Israeli citizens like Abu al-Qi’an and that an initial investigation has revealed nothing he may have done before the attack, that the Shin Bet could have discovered.
The attacker in a deadly terror frenzy, right, is shot dead as he strikes with a knife after killing four people in Beersheba March 22, 2022. (Screenshot: Channel 13)
The security sources told the news site that Abu al-Qi’an also appeared to be less radicalized than before.
“The terrorist’s behavior was the opposite of a terrorist who would carry out an attack,” they were quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the leader of the coalition’s Ra’am party – which receives significant support from traditional Bedouin communities in the Negev – strongly condemned the attack.
“Whoever commits a terrible crime is a criminal and a terrorist,” MK Mansour Abbas told Channel 13 News on Wednesday.
He pointed to widespread condemnation of the attack by Arab Israelis. “Political leaders, community leaders, religious figures, entire families have made statements – there has never been anything like this in Arab society,” said the Islamist party leader.
Abbas said he has spoken out against the attack in Arab media appearances, citing “the life and coexistence of all of us, Jews and Arabs,” adding that he hopes to visit and comfort the victims’ families.
Islamist Ra’am Party leader MK Mansour Abbas speaks during a plenary session at the Assembly Hall of the Knesset in Jerusalem January 5, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
He also pointed to the terrorist’s ties to Islamic State and said Muslim faith leaders must provide an adequate response to “distorted thoughts” about religion.
“We, as an Arab society, feel obliged to take action against this phenomenon, even if it is a phenomenon of individuals,” Abbas said.
Also on Wednesday, the four victims of the attack were buried and police conducted security assessments amid fears of more attacks during Ramadan, which begins next month.
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