Bedouin accused of driving bomber
Israeli citizen arrested for transporting suicide bomber who blew himself up at Be'er Sheva central bus station
An Israeli Bedouin has been accused of transporting the suicide bomber who blew himself up at the Be'er Sheva central bus station on August 28.
The Be'er Sheva Magistrates Court lifted a gag order Monday, involving 22-year-old Faik el-Kian from a Bedouin village in the Negev.
The prosecution has asked the court to extend the suspect's remand until the end of court proceedings.
The suicide bomber left the West Bank town of Daharia on August 28 and paid el-Kian NIS 200 to take him to Be'er Sheva. He traveled with several other illegal workers and was dropped off near the local market.
The suspect was arrested after police received intelligence information pointing to his connection to the incident. During questioning al-Kian admitted to transporting three illegal Palestinian workers the day of the Be'er Sheva bombing.
He was also able to identify the bomber from a photo as one of the men who entered his car on the morning of the attack.
Transported illegal workers to earn a living
El-Kian claimed he did not know the bomber's intentions at the time, even though he was dressed in a large coat on a hot summers' day.
The suspect admitted in court to have transported illegal workers to earn a living.
The Be'er Sheva bombing, which came exactly a week after the completion of the Gaza and northern West Bank pullout, marked the first major terror attack in a month and half.
Two security guards were seriously wounded when the suicide bomber detonated himself outside the central bus station in the southern town of Be'er Sheva. More than 50 people were treated for shock.
