Suspect tied to gay club shooting kept in custody

Police are investigating the possibility that a prominent LGBT community activist, suspected of committing an offense that served as a motive for a murderous 2009 rampage in a gay youth club, had in the past committed ​​additional transgressions of the same sort, Israel Radio reported Sunday.

The Tel Aviv Magistrate Court extended the suspect’s remand until Tuesday. Police officials said that the suspect, whose identity — along with the identities of other suspects and details of the suspected motive for the attack — remains under a gag order, was arrested for withholding information: He did not report to police that he was tied to the motive of the shootings at the Bar Noar club.

On Sunday, Justice Ido Druyan accepted a request by Israel Radio and other media organizations to allow the disclosure of the suspect’s identity on Tuesday morning.

Police announced last Wednesday that three men were arrested in connection to the shooting that claimed two lives and injured several others. The fourth suspect was also later detained and held for questioning.

This fourth suspect, who was described by police as “a prominent member of the gay and lesbian community,” is not thought by authorities to have been involved directly in the shooting. Nevertheless, the man is believed to be “a key figure” in solving the case, which, police assess, was motivated by reasons of personal revenge, not anti-gay sentiment, adding that he is suspected of sexual offenses as well.

Earlier Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the recent developments in the shooting case and anticipated that the perpetrators of the act would be brought to justice within a short period.

“There seems to be very significant progress; I hope this cycle will be closed soon,” Netanyahu said. “It is important for the rule of law in Israel … a sense of equality for all citizens of Israel.”