TEL AVIV – A Palestinian was arrested on terror-related charges only three days after being released from a 14-year prison sentence for attempting to poison Israeli diners at a café in Jerusalem, police announced Friday.
East Jerusalem resident Sufian Abdu is suspected of “incitement and supporting a terrorist organization” after it was found that Hamas flags and calls to violence were bandied about at the terrorist’s welcome home party.
Abdu was arrested in 2002 for leading a three-person terror cell in a plot to cause heart attacks using an undetectable poison at Jerusalem’s Café Rimon.
He had reportedly received the recipe for the poison via email from Hamas members in Gaza. His team tested the poison on cats to verify that it was indeed untraceable.
The poison was going to be delivered to an accomplice who worked in Café Rimon as an assistant chef for three years.
After the initial batch of poison failed, however, Abdu was sent bomb-making instructions by Hamas.
According to police, Abdu arrived at his home in Jabel Mukaber where a party was being held in his honor upon being released on Monday. Police had promised not to interfere as long as no incendiary messages were being disseminated at the festivities.
Police arrested Abdu when they found that Hamas flags were being waved at the party and guests were chanting inflammatory slogans directed at Israel.
Following his arrest, Abdu was brought to the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, where he will remain in custody until Monday.