18-year-old man found shot dead in plant nursery in suspected murder

Mustafa Mutlak, 18, from central town of Jaljulia, found with bullet wound to head near West Bank city of Qalqilya

Illustrative: A police car at the scene of a crime. (Israel Police)
Illustrative: A police car at the scene of a crime. (Israel Police)

The body of an 18-year-old was found with bullet wounds to the head in a plant nursery next to the West Bank city of Qalqilya on Wednesday morning.

The victim was identified by the Kan public broadcaster as Mustafa Mutlak, a resident of the Israeli town of Jaljulia, near the central city of Kfar Saba.

Police said they had opened an investigation into the suspected murder after they were called to the scene, finding the dead body in a field next to Qaliqilya.

“Based on the evidence found so far, it appears the event was most likely criminal,” a police statement said, indicating it was not terror-motivated. “The investigation is ongoing.”

According to the Abraham Initiatives, which tracks violence in the Arab community, 89 Arabs have been killed in homicides in Israel since the beginning of the year until October 11.

Arab communities have seen a surge in violence in recent years amid a rise in organized crime and the proliferation of illegal weapons.

The Palestinian city of Qalqilya (top) and the Israeli security barrier (bottom), file photo (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

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