Carmel region day after fire doused
Photo: Moran Maayan
Teen fire suspect released from custody
Police release under restrictions Usfiya boy who allegedly dumped nargila ember that ignited Carmel inferno. Father: He admitted to act under duress
Israel Police released, under restrictions, a 14-year-old boy from Usfiya who was arrested on suspicion of negligent conduct that was likely responsible for the inferno that ravaged the Carmel forest this weekend.
Police stressed that the investigation into the incident was not over.
Deadly Inferno
Benjamin Netanyahu appoints Netanya mayor to head expert team meant to circumvent bureaucracy, quickly address needs of residents affected by Carmel wildfire
The teenager's father said his son had admitted to the allegations under duress. "I don't know what they (police) did to him, but he was afraid and stressful," the father said while waiting to pick up his son at a Haifa police station. "Initially he did not say where exactly he threw the ember. This proves that he is being framed."
On Monday the boy reenacted the incident that allegedly ignited the fire, which claimed the lives of 42 people. Police said he admitted to dumping a nargila (water pipe) ember that ignited the blaze and then returned to school without reporting the incident to anyone.
"I regret the loss of life in the fire, but I refuse to let my son pay the price," the father added.
On Monday the Haifa District Court released two siblings arrested on suspicion that they ignited the fire, less than 24 hours after the remand of their arrests.
The court accepted the appeals filed by the two teens from Usfiya, aged 14 and 16, against the remand.
Parents and family members vehemently denied the teens had been involved in the fire from the moment of their arrests, calling them "good kids". Their father has accused his neighbors of causing the blaze and framing his sons.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
