In what appears to be a major oversight by the police, it emerged this evening (Saturday) that the police received an initial report of the incident near the time of the kidnapping, but did not initiate searches or report it to the IDF or Shin Bet. The report was received at 10:25 PM, although it is still unclear what its nature was.
It was only at 3:00 in the morning, when one of the fathers of the kidnapped children arrived at the police station and told of the disappearance of Shaer and Frankel, that the police notified the army.
The three boys arrived at the Alon Shvut intersection around 10 o'clock and there they got into, or were forced into, a car. The three had previously sent a message to their relatives that they were on their way home. Shortly thereafter, as mentioned, the police received the initial indication that the three had disappeared, but the police apparently did not understand the magnitude of the incident, and therefore did not inform the army.
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At three o'clock, Gilad Sha'er's father arrived at the police station as mentioned and said that contact with the boys had been cut off. Only then did the police realize that this was an incident that required military intervention.
The Shi'a District Police Department responded: "There are many details related to the investigation of the kidnapping. At this time, we are not commenting on, confirming or denying any details related to the investigation and are focusing a great effort with the IDF and the Shin Bet to locate them. We will draw lessons after locating the boys.".
In the evening, a meeting of the Political and Security Cabinet was held in which the ministers were updated on the situation and search efforts.
