Lia Malka Cohen, 35, has been identified as the victim of Thursday’s Ayalon Highway car bombing, Israel Police confirmed on Friday.
Cohen, an accountant and former police officer, was killed by an explosive device weighing about half a kilogram, which is suspected to have been planted in her vehicle, detonating while she was driving on the Ayalon Highway near the Holon Interchange in the middle of rush hour traffic.
She leaves behind a two-year-old child, who was not in the car at the time but who was briefly feared killed when a child’s car seat was found at the scene.
Victim, relatives, filed several complaints against estranged husband, suspected murderer
Her cousin wrote a social media post accusing Cohen’s estranged husband, saying, “Yes, it’s supposedly still under investigation. But it’s clear to everyone that her husband, her estranged husband, is the one who likely ordered her murder or did it himself.”
He further claimed that threats had been made by the estranged husband against Cohen and her family members for a long time.
“The murderer threatened her and my aunt and uncle for some time, and he continued to walk free and plan the murder. Nobody stopped him,” he said.
The victim’s husband has been detained for questioning, Israel Police said, which has been extended by 10 days until June 14.
Walla has learned that in recent months, several complaints have been filed against him by Cohen herself and her family members.
His lawyer argued on behalf of his client that he denies his involvement and was sleeping at home at the time of the incident, Maariv reported.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.