Christmas almost took a deadly turn in Jerusalem this year. A shipment of supposed Christmas ornaments sent from China turned out to contain hundreds of low-grade weapons such as fireworks, commando knives, swords, brass knuckles, and stun guns. In an attempt to fool customs officers, the shipment was covered with a layer of genuine Christmas ornaments. Port authorities were suspicious, however, and intercepted the weapons shipment before it reached its final destination in a neighborhood of east Jerusalem.
“These items have in the past resulted in wounded police officers, and interception is an important step in tackling riots and protecting residents and visitors of Jerusalem,” said Jerusalem District Police Commander Maj. Gen. Moshe Edri.
