Tel Aviv attack victim Aviv Morag
Reproduction photo: Muhammad Shinawi
Scene of the attack
Photo: Yaron Brener
The Petah Tikva Magistrates' Court has extended the remand of an Arab man suspected of committing a terror attack with his truck in Tel Aviv Sunday, which killed one and injured 19, by eight days.
Police say the man, a resident of Kfar Kassem, is suspected of murder, attempted murder, membership of an illegal organization, aggravated assault, and endangering the lives of motorists.
TA Attack
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The court held a closed door hearing and the driver wasn't allowed to meet with his lawyer, attorney Muhid Badir. Badir claims that the Shin Bet issued an injunction preventing a meeting between the two for three days. "I hope to see him and hope the injunction will be removed," he said.
The defense attorney was adamant both before and during the hearing that his client's version of events, saying the attack was in fact an accident, was the true version. "We are working on the suspect's version of the events," he said.
"This was a road accident that ended with tragic consequences," the defense attorney told reporters, adding, "We send our condolences to the victim's family and send wishes for a swift recovery to the injured."
He noted that "we are cooperating with the investigation team, the family is also cooperating. We hope that the truth will come to light, that this was an innocent accident that happened at the wrong place and time."
The driver's mother also spoke in her son's defense: "It's just because he's an Arab they say he carried out a terror attack, if he was Jewish they wouldn't say it." She added: "My son works with Jews all the time in Petah Tikva if he wanted to carry out a terror attack he would have done it there."
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