Ramle woman arrested on suspicion she planned to assist suicide bombing

The Shin Bet security service and the Israel police recently arrested Sumiya Abu Aanam, a young woman from Ramle suspected of planning to carry out a terror attack at the behest of militant Palestinian group Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.

A gag order on the case was lifted Monday, revealing that Abu Aanam, a 21-year-old teacher's aide at a Ramle kindergarten, was arrested at the end of October. She was set to begin studying at an Israeli university this week.

The police investigation revealed that shortly before her arrest, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade activists from Gaza contacted Abu Aanam and asked her to help them kidnap a Jewish Israeli. She apparently voiced willingness to assist.

The young woman was also asked to help smuggle a female suicide bomber from Gaza into Israel and to take her to a busy area. Her arrest effectively foiled the attack.

An indictment was filed against Abu Aanam at the Petah Tikva District Court. She has been charged with maintaining contact with a foreign agent.