Police custody of JCC bomb threat suspect extended
The arrest came after an extensive investigation by the Israeli Police in cooperation with FBI and other international law enforcement agencies.
By ELIYAHU KAMISHERThe main suspect behind bomb threats against Jewish communities in the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI)
The dual Israeli-US citizen, whom is suspected of being behind most of the bomb threats of Jewish community centers in the United States, had his remand extended for one week on Thursday.The 19-year-old suspect, a resident of Ashkelon, whose name remains under gag order, is suspected of perpetrating more than 100 bomb threats against Jewish institutions in the US and around the world. He was arrested by police last Thursday and detained by police until March 30, which was subsequently extended another week in the Rishon Lezion Magistrates Court. The suspect’s father, who was also arrested on suspicion that he was aware of the alleged threats, was released to house arrest.The teenager’s lawyer, Galit Besh, previously stated that her client has an inoperable brain tumor that has led to behavioral issues.Wave of bomb threats called to Jewish commmunity centers across the US , possible antisemitism(credit: REUTERS)The suspect and his family were born in Israel and lived for a number of years in the United States.The arrests came after an extensive investigation by the Israeli Police in cooperation with FBI and other international law enforcement agencies.The FBI’s top attaché to Israel, Cary Gleicher, told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that he met with FBI Director James Comey in Washington on March 6 to discuss the bomb threats investigation and Comey impressed his “personal interest” in solving the case.Eight days later, 14 FBI agents and technical experts arrived in Israel and held a series of meetings at the Lod headquarters of Lahav 433, Israel’s elite police investigative unit, where they discussed the gaps in locating the suspect.Moreover, the FBI brought sophisticated technology to the investigation that the Israeli Police did not have access to previously, which turned out to be essential in locating the suspect.