(haipo) The Israel Police announced today the unraveling of a serious security incident, in which several minors from the Haifa and Kiryat Shmona area were exploited by a foreign agent on behalf of Iranian intelligence. The minors maintained continuous contact with the agent, carried out various security missions in exchange for money, and the Haifa District Attorney's Office is expected to file serious indictments against the suspects.
Asher's Investigating Officer, Commander Lahat Shrikar, provided the main points of the affair.
An undercover investigation that began with a dramatic arrest at the airport
The complex investigation was led by the "Asher" area commander, in cooperation with Lahav 433 units - the "Barak" unit and security officials. The investigation began with the dramatic arrest of a minor at Ben Gurion Airport upon his landing in Israel, on suspicion of espionage and contact with a foreign agent. The investigation revealed that the initial contact was made when the suspect was looking for work on the Internet. The foreign agent initially used the minor in the "steps" method, performing tasks that seemed innocent, such as distributing flyers, and later demanded that he fully identify himself through photographs.
Serious security missions for just a few thousand shekels
As the relationship grew stronger, the suspect recruited another minor and together they carried out various security missions, including spraying graffiti with incendiary content against the government, photographing central and strategic sites in the center of the country, and attempts to expand the circle of operations of additional minors. In exchange for performing the missions, the suspects received a payment of a few thousand shekels. Today, with the completion of the investigation, in which the police succeeded in forming an evidentiary infrastructure against the suspects, and after a prosecutor's statement was submitted, the Haifa District Attorney's Office is expected to file a serious indictment.
A call for public and parental vigilance
The Israel Police said that it and security officials will act with all determination and with all the tools at their disposal, overt and covert, against any attempt by enemy countries and hostile elements to recruit Israeli citizens, especially minors, while exploiting them to harm the security of the state. The police call on the public of parents to be extremely vigilant about their children's activity on social media and to immediately report any unusual or suspicious contact.
Did the article interest you?