Woman arrested in northern Israel over alleged false terror report, husband arrested over threats

A woman from Baka al-Gharbiya was arrested on suspicion of falsely reporting that her husband intended to carry out a terrorist attack after telling police that he had threatened her, police said Sunday. Her husband was also arrested on suspicion of making threats.

Police said extensive checks ruled out any security-related intent on the husband’s part and raised a “clear suspicion” that the woman’s warning about an impending attack was entirely false.

The Baka al-Gharbiya police station opened an urgent investigation on Saturday after receiving the woman’s report. Police said numerous forces were deployed, and operational and technological measures were used to locate and arrest the husband quickly because of the potential danger to the public.

Police learn couple involved in family dispute, divorce proceedings

As the investigation continued, police said officers learned that the couple was involved in a family dispute connected to divorce proceedings. The statement cited that dispute in describing the woman’s report as allegedly false. 

Police arrested the woman, who remained in custody after questioning. Police said they would ask a court to extend her detention, citing the deployment of security forces and use of substantial operational resources in response to the report.

Police did not identify the offense she is suspected of committing or say how long they would seek to keep her in custody.

The husband was also questioned on suspicion of threats, according to the statement.