Criminal10/2/2026

Police Investigate Suspected Arson at Shoket Wastewater Treatment Plant

A fire in an electrical room disabled the wastewater treatment plant in Shoket, near Meitar. Thousands of cubic meters of untreated sewage flowed into the Hebron, Beersheba, and Besor streams, while police are investigating suspected deliberate arson.

Key facts

•Location of the incident: the wastewater treatment plant in Shoket, near Meitar
•Publication date: October 2, 2026
•The Hebron, Beersheba, and Besor streams were polluted
•Volume of the flow: thousands of cubic meters of untreated sewage
•Police are investigating suspected deliberate arson

What Happened

A major fire broke out during the night between Thursday and Friday inside the electrical room of the wastewater treatment plant. After the infrastructure was damaged, the plant ceased operating, and sewage continued to flow into the local stream network.

Course of the Investigation

Police opened an investigation into suspected arson. Officers from the Ayarot Police Station and forensic experts collected evidence and findings from the scene, and a fire investigator was called in to determine the source and circumstances of the fire. According to the police statement, a criminal motive is suspected, but the source does not report any arrests, suspects, or indictments.

Environmental Impact

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Neve Midbar Regional Council notified communities downstream, including al-Kasom, Omer, Bnei Shimon, Meitar, Beersheba, and Eshkol. The Beersheba Municipality described the incident as a serious environmental and health event.

Emergency Measures

The Water Authority and the Neve Midbar Water Corporation are carrying out engineering work to stop the sewage flow in the preliminary treatment area. At the same time, an attempt is being made to operate an emergency bypass line using electric generators. The public is advised to stay away from the Hebron, Beersheba, and Besor streams.

What this means for you

Residents and visitors in the affected areas must follow the official recommendation and stay away from the water and channels of the three streams. The mere existence of a police investigation does not yet mean that arson has been proven or that the person responsible has been identified; the source does not provide the investigation’s final findings.

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