The suspect, Shmuel Preimark
Photo: Guy Assayag
Saturday evening's rally
Photo: Yael Golan
Soldier who threatened gay rally to remain in custody
Shmuel Preimark, 20, admits threatening to attack homosexuals shortly before rally in memory of victims of gay youth center shooting. His remand extended by three days
The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court in Sunday extended the remand of Shmuel Preimark, a 20-year-old Nahal Haredi soldier from the capital, who was arrested Saturday on suspicion of posting threats on gay Web forums, by three days.
Several hours before the start of the rally, the suspect allegedly posted a message on a gay Web forum, threatening to hurt the rally's participants.
The threats were made shortly before Saturday evening's rally in Tel Aviv in memory of the victims of a shooting attack on a gay and lesbian youth club in the city one week earlier.
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The soldier is suspected of writing, "Expect more victims among the gays, this time something bigger" and "a second attack on the community soon. Be ready. Don't say we didn’t know."
Police who searched the suspect's home found his personal weapon and confiscated two computers, which were allegedly used for making the threats. The police said that the soldier confessed and was taken in for additional questioning.
Threats were also made on organizers of transportation to the rally from northern and southern Israel. In both cases, unknown people said they would arrive at the collection point with grenades and hurl them at the participants. Following the threats, police cars were dispatched to the collection points.
Gal, who was in charge of a bus which left from one of Haifa's neighborhoods, told Ynet, "A guy who sounded quite old called my cell phone. He asked about the ride. When I wanted to take his name, he said his name was 'the grenade owner' and said we would receive grenades at the rally as well."
