Two suspects to be charged with leaving gift-wrapped grenade at door of local politician

Prosecutors in the State Attorney’s Office will file an indictment against two people suspected of leaving a gift-wrapped hand grenade on the doorstep of a local politician in northern Israel.

The son of Merom HaGalil Regional Council chairman Amit Sofer found the explosive, accompanied by a threatening note, upon returning home from school last month in the northern town of Bar Yohai.

The note read: “Congratulations, we will visit your office as soon as possible.”

Police arrested two suspects earlier this month, a 24-year-old Nof HaGalil resident and a 16-year-old.

The two apparently drove to Nazareth by motorbike after dropping off the explosive.

One of them was apprehended in Eilat while crossing the border into Egypt, a law enforcement spokesman says.

Police claim the threat was an attempt to influence Sofer’s decision-making as head of Merom HaGalil’s planning and building council.

Sofer was reelected to serve a second term as regional council head in February.

Police intend to request that the suspects remain in custody until the end of proceedings in the Nazareth District Court.