A quick inspection of the car revealed a concealed knife, a handwritten note pledging allegiance to a known terrorist organization, and personal items indicating he had left home prepared for a “martyrdom operation”.

By Hezy Laing

A dramatic and unexpected turn of events unfolded in Jerusalem this week when a suspected terrorist on his way to carry out an attack was stopped not by security forces, but by fate itself.

According to police reports, the would‑be assassin—identified as 24‑year‑old Muhammad Abu‑Rumi, a resident of the East Jerusalem neighborhood of A‑Tur—was traveling toward the city center early Tuesday morning when he was involved in a traffic accident that ultimately led to his arrest.

The incident occurred shortly after 8:00 a.m. near the Har HaTsofim Tunnel, one of the main traffic arteries connecting northern Jerusalem to the city’s commercial districts.

Abu‑Rumi’s vehicle collided with another car while attempting to overtake traffic at high speed, causing a crash that immediately drew the attention of bystanders.

Witnesses said the collision appeared unusually violent for the morning conditions, prompting several people to call emergency services.

When officers from the Jerusalem District Patrol Unit arrived, they noticed Abu‑Rumi behaving nervously and attempting to distance himself from the damaged vehicle.

A quick inspection of the car revealed a concealed knife, a handwritten note pledging allegiance to a known terrorist organization, and personal items indicating he had left home prepared for a “martyrdom operation.”

Paramedics treated two civilians for minor injuries sustained in the crash, while police detained Abu‑Rumi on suspicion of preparing to carry out a terror attack.

He was transferred to the Shin Bet for interrogation, where investigators said early findings suggested he had been acting alone but had consumed online incitement material in the days leading up to the attempted attack.

Jerusalem District Police Commander Superintendent Doron Turgeman praised the officers for their swift response, noting that the accident “prevented what could have been a far more serious incident.”

He added that the discovery of the suspect’s intentions was “a matter of seconds and luck,” emphasizing that the city remains on heightened alert amid a rise in lone‑wolf attacks.

For many in Jerusalem, the event is being described as a miracle—an attack thwarted not by force, but by an unexpected twist of fate.