‘Wanted to blow up Jews and Arabs’: suspect recounts Be’er Sheva club attack plan to investigators

Abdullah Gargawi of Segev Shalom was indicted Tuesday on charges related to Islamic State and planning an attack at the Forum club in Be’er Sheva. Gargawi, arrested July 19 by police and the Shin Bet, described in his interrogation how he planned to detonate explosives and then carry out a shooting attack, stating, “I wanted to blow up the people dancing there — Jews or Arabs.” He had searched YouTube for instructions on making explosives, practiced shooting, and conducted controlled explosions. The indictment, filed at the Be’er Sheva District Court, charges him with contacting a foreign agent, preparing to carry out a terror attack, and weapons offenses, among other crimes. Gargawi reportedly began consuming Islamic State content in 2022 and later decided to carry out an attack in Be’er Sheva using a booby-trapped vehicle.