Five youths from the northern city of Safed were indicted on arson charges on Monday after allegedly setting fire to cars in a scrapyard in the nearby Arab village of Akbara to avenge the terrorist attack in Bnei Brak in late March that left five residents dead.
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The five defendants, all residents of Safed, were arrested by police two weeks ago. The indictment compiled by the prosecution in conjunction with the Safed police department states that the day after the terrorist attack, the five defendants armed themselves with a knife, stones, and other equipment and then drove to a gas station and purchased gloves and stickers to conceal their vehicle's license plate. They then drove to Akbara where they eventually found a scrapyard.
The five then set fire to several vehicles, dumped paint, and threw stones at car windows. During their act, one of the defendants, a minor, filmed the arson and added the caption, "terrorist attack," and "death to Arabs." Six vehicles in total were burned at the scrapyard, resulting in damages estimated in the tens of thousands of shekels.
After two locals spotted the defendants' vehicle parked by the side of the road, the driver, who had remained behind the wheel, fled the scene. His four accomplices in the scrapyard then hid in a nearby forest, trying to make contact with their driver to come to pick them up. A short while later they were arrested by police. Officers who were called to the scene by locals because of the burning cars were able to stop the vehicle with the fifth defendant at the exit to the village, questioned him, and arrested him on the spot.
The police said the five were charged with arson, criminal sabotage, and possession of a knife. The fifth defendant, who refused to partake in the act itself and waited for the other four in the car, was also charged with criminal sabotage and possession of a knife. The indictment was submitted to the Nazareth District Court.
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