2 Jerusalem residents indicted over racist assault on Arab youths

Two Jerusalem residents were indicted Sunday for assaulting a group of Arabs in a suspected hate crime last month.

According to the charge sheet filed at the Jerusalem District Court, 21-year-old Avihu Cohen and an unnamed 16-year-old minor were among over 15 people who sought out Arab residents of the city on the night of September 26.

After locating four Arabs from the Beit Safafa neighborhood, Cohen approached one of them in a threatening manner and punched him in the face, the indictment said.

As the Arabs fled, Cohen and the others gave chase while throwing stones and cursing them, according to the charges. After one of the Beit Safafa residents fell to the ground, members of the group punched, kicked and used an electric shocker on him, as well as beating him with motorcycle helmets belonging to the victims.

Cohen and the minor were charged with causing serious injury under aggravated circumstances for racist motives and assault that results in serious injury under aggravated circumstances for racist motives.

The minor, who the indictment said ran from police when officers came to his house, was also charged with disobeying a police officer.