The Israel Prisons Service (IPS) said that an Israel Defense Forces-style hand grenade was placed close to the front door of an IPS intelligence officer while he and his family were in their home in Be'er Sheva, and that an explosion was averted when neighbors discovered the explosive and notified the officer.

The officer, who works at the Ohalei Keidar prison in Be'er Sheva, was about to open his door to leave for work when the neighbors told him of the grenade.

Police and sapper squads were called to the scene and detonated the grenade.

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In addition, a graffiti message sprayed on the wall next to his front door read, "because of what happened in the 2nd ward, Ohalei Keidar."

Ohalei Keidar Prison holds 1,000 prisoners - half of them security prisoners serving time for terror and national security-related offenses, and the other half serving sentences for criminal acts.

Neighbors maintain that the incident occurred because of testimony the officer was due to give. The IPS has opened an investigation.