Arab Israeli teen arrested on suspicion of killing couple in central Israel for nationalistic reasons

Police and the Shin Bet have arrested a 17-year-old Arab Israeli on suspicion of killing a married couple last week in central Israel, in an attack that law enforcement now suspects was nationalistically motivated.

Ruslan and Olga Prihodko, from Rishon Lezion, were found shot dead in their car Friday evening near Mishmar Ayalon in the Judean foothills.

The couple, both in their 40s, had left their house that morning to go on a trip and disappeared, relatives recounted to Channel 13, who stressed that neither husband nor wife had any history of suicide or mental illness.

The couple is survived by their teenage son, an only child.

Police began probing the incident as a potential murder-suicide, but later changed course and started investigating possible foul play, enlisting the Shin Bet’s help.

The development came about after police realized that Ruslan’s licensed handgun was not at the scene of the crime, and he had not fired any weapon, Ynet reports, adding that his handgun was later found in its safe in the couple’s home.

The Border Police Yamam counter-terrorism force arrested the suspect last night.

Hebrew outlets report that the teenager is the younger brother of the terrorist who carried out a deadly ramming attack in 2024 at a bus stop in Ramat Hasharon.