Police reportedly seeking to free to house arrest crime boss suspected in sushi joint blasts

Police are expected to request that a senior underworld crime figure arrested in connection with a spate of grenade blasts in central Israel be released to house arrest today, the Ynet news site reports.

Mob boss Yossi Musli was nabbed Tuesday evening following a series of explosions near several branches of the Japanika fast food chain. Investigators suspect the incidents are linked to an escalating conflict between the Musli and Jarushi crime families.

Musli and three other suspects arrested with him are due for a remand hearing in the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court today, where officers will request they be released from custody and instead placed under house arrest, Ynet claims.

Police believe the owner of the restaurant chain, Barak Abramov, who also runs the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team, has ties to the Jarushi family, after once having been close to the Musli family.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, Abramov franchised several branches of the Japanika chain to active members of the Jarushi family. At least nine of the restaurant locations targeted are under the crime family’s purview, the outlet claims.

This morning, police announced they were investigating a stun grenade blast that occurred overnight outside a private residence in northern Tel Aviv. Officers are probing whether the homeowner has ties to either crime family,  according to Hebrew-language outlets.