Police shutter Tel Aviv pub over date rape suspicions

Police shuttered a nightclub in south Tel Aviv late Saturday after a young woman who had spent the evening at the establishment was hospitalized in serious condition, with doctors saying her condition was caused by the consumption of an illicit drug.

According to Israel Radio, police are looking into suspicions raised by the doctors that that the drug was placed in the woman’s drinks without her knowledge.

The drug was not identified, but investigators indicated it was a so-called “date rape” substance that leaves a victim unable to resist a sexual assault.

The woman, 23, is hospitalized at the Sourasky Medical Center Ichilov, in the city’s center.

The nightclub, too, was not identified by authorities, but police said the owners were cooperating and had agreed with the decision to close the establishment for the night while the investigation continues.

Depending on the findings of the investigation, police said, licensing officials may decide to launch their own proceedings against the owners.