The remand of Alaa Abu Katifan and Farid Tara was extended Tuesday by two days. The two are suspected of shooting Abd al-Karim Azbarga, second on the A-Nida al-Arabi list for Lod City
Council.
Azbaraga was rushed by relatives to the hospital after two masked assailants shot him Monday evening. He is in serious condition.
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Eye-witnesses recounted that Azbaraga was visiting a family that supports his ticket; when he left the house, a masked individual fired a bullet at him, hitting his abdomen. The shooter fled the scene. Police arrested the suspects Monday night, and the two were taken to custody.
The two suspects denied any connection to the shooting. They claimed they had an alibi, and the Ramla Magistrate's Court remanded their arrest in two days – rather than the eight the police requested – to look into their claims.
The shooting in Lod was the climax of a turbulent election in the city. At dawn Tuesday, police arrested the two suspects, who were, according to police intelligence, involved in the shooting. But police did not present any evidence tying them to the act.
The suspects' lawyer said: "This is a false arrest. There's is no reason to these two should have been arrested for. Police could have taken another 1,000 people in Lod and decide it arrests them for no reason.
"This case will end with nothing, they will be released after their alibi is corroborated," he added.
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