Manhunt underway for alleged rapist in central Israel
Police say man offered young woman a ride, turned off road into orchard and assaulted her before fleeing
Police launched a manhunt Friday in search of a suspect police say raped a young woman in central Israel Thursday.
According to police, the suspect stopped his car and struck up a conversation with the alleged victim as she waited at a bus stop near the city of Ness Ziona, before offering her a ride home, the Hebrew language Ynet news reported.
The unnamed victim later, who was described as being in her 20s, said that shortly after he began driving, he turned off the road and into a nearby orchard where he sexually assaulted her. She said her attacker threatened to kill her and warned her not to file a police compliant before fleeing the scene.
Police said they have launched a manhunt for the perpetrator and investigators are examining footage from security cameras near the scene in an effort to identify the vehicle and determine the direction he was traveling.