(TPS) Tel Aviv’s police prevented a massive terror attack in the heart of Tel Aviv on Thursday when they captured a heavily armed Arab, apparently ahead of a potentially disastrous attack.

The police stated they prevented a disaster when they located in Jaffa a resident of the Palestinian Authority who was in Israel illegally while in the possession of a Carlo submachine gun and two pipe bombs.

Police on patrol identified a man who raised their suspicions in the area of ​​the Clock Square in Jaffa. During the inspection, the suspect was found to be an Israel illegally, and that he was heavily armed.

The suspect was immediately arrested and taken to the police station for questioning.

Reports say that during the initial interrogation of the terrorist in the field, he admitted that he “came to carry out an attack in Tel Aviv”.

Reports further indicate that the suspect had previously been caught with a knife on the Temple Mount in April and served time in prison for the offense.

He is said to be in his 20s and a resident of the Rafidia neighborhood in Shechem (Nablus).

Police spokesman Eli Levy told Kan 11 news that “a disaster was avoided. Alertness has been raised.”

Israel contended with a massive wave of attacks in April which left 19 Israelis dead. The IDF has since stepped up its counterterrorism efforts, while the terrorists have intensified their efforts to carry out further attacks.