Police arrest Palestinian suspect over July 8 murder of Prison Service employee
Ibrahim Mansour, from West Bank town of Bidu, detained over killing of dog handler Yochai Avni; suspect was arrested two days after murder, will be held through July 29
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
A Palestinian suspect has been arrested over the murder of an Israel Prison Service employee earlier this month, authorities said on Monday.
According to police and the Shin Bet security agency, the suspect who allegedly murdered 40-year-old dog handler Yochai Avni on July 8 was detained just two days after the attack. However, the information was only cleared for publication on Monday.
Avni’s body was found following a fire in his home in the West Bank settlement of Givon Hahadasha, outside Jerusalem.
His colleagues at the prison where he was employed noticed his absence from work and turned up at his home to check on him. When they arrived, they saw smoke emerging from the home and called firefighters to the scene.
Police’s initial suspicions were of a “criminal incident,” since the body was found with stab wounds. Shortly thereafter, the Shin Bet joined the investigation, indicating suspicions it may have been terror-linked.
Two days later, on July 10, Ibrahim Mansour, from the West Bank Palestinian town of Bidu, was detained by members of police’s elite Gideonim unit over his alleged involvement in the attack.
Mansour’s remand has been extended until July 29, as police and the Shin Bet continue the investigation.
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