Fifth suspect arrested in killing of mob chief Benny Shlomo

Police have arrested another suspect in connection with the killing of underworld crime boss Benny Shlomo earlier this month.

“As part of an intensive investigative operation…another suspect was arrested last night for involvement in the murder of Benny Shlomo,” a police statement said.

The suspect was identified as a 29-year-old resident of Ramle.

Police added that his remand was extended five days by an Ashkelon court.

Shlomo, head of the eponymous crime family, was killed by a hit squad on October 3 as he stood at a gas station in broad daylight near the town of Azor.

Shortly after 2 p.m., a pair of gunmen pulled up in a car next to Shlomo, 42, who began to run from the scene, before being shot multiple times from close range.

An off-duty cop — who was fueling up his motorcycle at the scene when the shooting began — pursued the gunmen as they drove away from the gas station, according to Hebrew media reports. As he pulled up beside them, the assailants rammed their car into his bike.

The policeman, who wasn’t injured, shot at the culprits as they abandoned their vehicle and then carjacked a woman on the other side of the road. They managed to get away unharmed in the stolen vehicle, the reports said.

In the hours after the assassination, police arrested four suspects, former members of a rival crime family who had reportedly been paid for the hit on Shlomo.

The names of three of those suspects were cleared for publication last week.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report