Police: Grenade at officer's home was inmate's warning

Police believe a prisoner caught trying to smuggle poison into jail, possibly to kill another inmate, was behind a fragmentation grenade placed at the entrance of the prison intelligence officer's home Tuesday.

The prisoner, who has been in isolation since the incident, may now be transferred from the Ohalei Keidar detention center, near Be'er Sheva, where he is now incarcerated.

Police suspect the prisoner wanted to threaten the officer, Major Emil Tzalah, who uncovered the smuggling attempt.

A neighbor noticed the grenade outside Tzalah's apartment door, and warned him through the door not to open it. A police sapper was called to the scene, along with investigators in search of fingerprints. The grenade was apparently not rigged to explode. Graffiti sprayed near the door hinted that it was connected to the smuggling attempt.

The prisoner allegedly behind the incident, known to be a member of a crime ring, allegedly feels Tzalah singled him out for persecution. Sources close to the probe said he smuggled the poison and drugs in a body orifice. Sources said the poison was intended to kill a member of a rival crime ring or enable another prisoner to commit suicide.

Maj. Gen. Eli Gavison, commander of the Southern District of the Israel Prisons Service, said: "Prisoners in jail have no way of influencing us except by threats. Unfortunately, we have a great deal of information on intentions to hurt wardens. The number of threats against staff members is increasing. This was intended to send [Tzalah] - and all wardens - the message that they can reach anyone they want."