Police in Rahat (archives)
Photo: Herzl Yosef
6 Bedouins suspected of throwing firebombs at cars
Rahat residents who allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at vehicles travelling along Route 40 in Negev suspected of being members of terrorist organization, endangering lives on roads
Police have arrested six residents of the Bedoiun town of Rahat, among them two minors, on suspicion that they intentionally endangered lives on a central highway in the Negev region.
A gag order lifted on Friday revealed that the six are suspected of routinely throwing firebombs at vehicles traveling on Route 40, south of the Lehavim Junction.
"They are suspected of being members of a terrorist organization, and endangering lives on the roads," police said in a statement on Friday.
The main suspects, two adults aged 22 and 24, and two minors aged 16 and 17, are suspected of carrying out at least one attack on Route 40 on April 16, in which they allegedly threw firebombs at passing traffic. No one was injured in the incident.
The main suspects are being held on charges of conspiracy to carry out a terrorist plot, while two others have been released subject to the court's terms.
Police and the Shin Bet have been investigating the affair since April. The adult suspects were arrested late last month, while the minors were detained on Thursday.
A police official said more arrests may follow. "This was not some sort of prank, but a deliberate act; therefore, we decided to treat it as an act of terror," he said.
A relative of one of the suspects told Ynet Friday, "I condemn all acts of terror, but we are citizens of the State of Israel. This is merely a practical joke by some kids, and it doesn’t warrant the police's involvement.
"I don’t think this incident is a security-related. The (suspects) are good guys who just want to earn a living," he said.
Attorney Nasr Mustafa, who is representing one of the minors, told Ynet that his client has denied the allegations and claims that he did not throw any firebombs.
