Crime boss Francois Abutbul gunned down

Underworld figure shot to death in Coastal Highway gas station; gunman escapes. Police: Evidence point to professional hit

Raanan Ben-Zur|Published: 07.31.11 , 01:31

Israeli underworld figure Francois Abutbul was gunned down late Saturday night, in a Coastal Highway gas station.

Police officials said that it appears that the gunman, riding a motorcycle, approached the driver's side of the vehicle, which had stopped by one of the gas pumps, opened fire and then fled the scene.

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Abutbul suffered mortal gunshot wounds. Magen David Adom emergency services rushed him the Laniado Hospital in Netanya where doctors fought to save his life, but to no avail.

One of Abutbul's bodyguards was in the car with him at the time of the shooting and sustained mild injuries. Abutbul received many death threats in the past and was known to always have bodyguards with him.

Scene of the crime (Photo: Ido Erez)

Large police forces arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, including Netanya Police Commander Maj.-Gen. Ami Eshed, and several forensics teams.

A police source told Ynet that "the fact that only Abutbul was killed indicates that this was a targeted assassination, carried out by a professional." He added that a large number of shell casings was recovered from the scene.

The Abutbul crime family is no stranger to assassination attempts. Francois Abutbul's father, Felix, was gunned down outside a Prague casino in 2002.

The International Fraud Unit will head the investigation into Abutbul's murder.