Fake Iran Missile Alert Leads to Ambush on Police
Five Arab teens arrested after allegedly staging false rocket alert to attack police during Israel-Iran war
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In a chilling incident that underscores the volatile tensions in Jerusalem during wartime, Israeli police officers responding to a report of an Iranian missile strike in the capital’s east found themselves ambushed—not by shrapnel, but by stones.
The alert came during the height of the war with Iran: a call to Israel’s emergency line claimed that a missile had struck the Arab neighborhood of At-Tur, on the eastern slopes of Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives. Units from the Shalem police station and Border Police immediately rushed to the scene.
But upon arrival, officers quickly realized there was no missile—only a staged setup. As they assessed the situation, a group of masked youth launched a barrage of rocks at them before fleeing the area. No injuries or damage were reported.
Following the ambush, Jerusalem District Police launched an intensive investigation. Within days, detectives from the Central Unit identified and arrested five teenagers from East Jerusalem—aged just 15 and 16—accused of orchestrating the fake report and carrying out the assault.
The suspects were held in custody for two weeks while investigators gathered evidence. Today, Israeli police announced that a formal prosecutor's declaration has been filed, paving the way for indictments from the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office.
“This was a deliberate and dangerous attempt to draw officers into a trap under the false pretense of a missile strike,” said Chief Inspector Nadav Kogan, who led the investigation. “These suspects abused a time of war to attack our forces and destabilize the public order.”
In a statement, Israel Police warned:
“We view this incident with utmost severity. Every attempt to harm our officers or disrupt public safety will be met with zero tolerance. The police will continue to act decisively against those who exploit national security threats to incite violence.”
The arrests come as Israeli security services remain on high alert for both domestic and regional threats, with East Jerusalem neighborhoods often serving as flashpoints for unrest.