Troops arrest boy bomb smuggler in West Bank

Troops at a West Bank checkpoint arrested a 10-year-old boy trying to smuggle a bomb into Israel today.

The commander of the army unit that caught the boy said he was carrying a school bag, and soldiers who checked him thought was suspiciously heavy.

When they examined the contents they found a bomb, laced with nuts and bolts to increase its killing power.

“It was a pretty serious bomb, between seven and 10 kilos,” Lieutenant Colonel Guy, told Israeli Army Radio. “It was ready for detonation, apparently with a mobile phone.”

Palestinians said the boy worked as a porter at the Huwwara checkpoint, near Nablus, helping to carry the belongings of Palestinians forbidden to drive through. He lives in the city’s poverty-ridden Balata refugee camp.

Guy said the boy was hired by an adult to carry the bag. He said it was common for terror groups to use innocent-looking children or women as couriers for arms and explosives.

He said the boy would be freed after questioning.

“We’re not going to do anything with a boy like that, an innocent kid trying to earn his daily bread.

"Someone apparently promised him money for getting the bomb across.”