Prosecutors on Thursday filed an indictment against a 36-year-old man accused of attacking a Christian nun near King David’s Tomb in Jerusalem, saying he targeted her because of her religious identity.
The State Attorney’s Office said the indictment was filed in Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court against Yona Schreiber, a resident of the West Bank settlement of Peduel. Prosecutors asked the court to keep him in custody until the end of legal proceedings.
Yona Schreiber assaults a Christian nun near King David’s Tomb in Jerusalem
(Video: Israel Police)
According to the indictment, filed by the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office, Schreiber noticed the complainant wearing Christian nun’s clothing and decided to attack her because of it.
Prosecutors said Schreiber ran toward the nun, shoved her forcefully and caused her to fall to the ground. He then kicked her hard while she was lying on the ground, according to the indictment.
Video of the incident, which circulated online over the past week, showed a bystander trying to stop Schreiber from continuing the attack. Prosecutors said Schreiber also attacked the bystander with punches and kicks.
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The nun suffered bruising to her face and injuries to her leg in the attack
(Photo: Israel Police)
The nun suffered bruising to her face and injuries to her leg, according to the indictment.
The investigation was conducted by officers from the David Precinct in the Jerusalem District of the Israel Police.
Schreiber was charged with aggravated assault causing bodily injury as a hate crime, as well as simple assault.