Police are holding a Jewish teenager in connection with an arson attack on a mosque in northern Israel earlier this week, according to information cleared on Thursday for publication.
The 18-year old suspect, who has no previous record of criminal activity, was apprehended on Monday near Ariel, a mere two hours after a mosque in the Israeli bedouin village of Tuba-Zangriyye was set on fire. The mosque, which is still standing, sustained major damage, as did multiple religious texts. The attack outraged the residents of the Galilee village, provoking violent demonstrations and confrontations with the police, as well as nationwide outrage and condemnation.
On Thursday, the Kfar Saba magistrate's court judge extended the suspect's remand for an additional five days, the second time his detention has been extended since his arrest. Judge Michael Kirshon explained that suspicions against the subject have deepened since his first remand.
A gag order has been issued until the end of the month regarding the suspect's name and the details of the investigation.
The youth is suspected of sneaking into the village in the middle of the night on Sunday and setting fire to the mosque, causing extensive damage. Two additional suspects who were apprehended with him at the time of his arrest were released shortly after. Police suspect the teen of involvement in other crimes, including car theft, conspiracy, arson, destruction of property and unauthorized usage of a vehicle.
The suspect denies committing any crime, and his defense attorney claims that the suspicions against him are based on intelligence rather than on evidence collected in the case.
The suspect's parents, who live in northern Israel, said on Thursday that their son does not live with them and that they have no knowledge of the event. "We did not raise our child to be an arsonist, but all kinds of things happen where he lives now," they said.
Residents of Tuba-Zangriyye were pleased to hear that a suspect had been arrested. "It's important to us that the perpetrator of this crime be apprehended and punished for his acts," village resident Talel Hayib said.
