Jewish gang that attacked Arabs arrested

Jewish gang that attacked Arabs arrested
Published: Dec. 21, 2010 at 11:23 AM
UPI

JERUSALEM, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Israeli police have arrested a gang of nine Jewish suspects, seven of them minors, that allegedly attacked Arabs in Jerusalem.

The gang members live in Jerusalem and West Bank settlements, police said.

The Jerusalem Magistrates Court released three of the teenagers on bail Tuesday, Ynetnews.com said.


Investigators said a 14-year-old girl was used as bait to lure the victims, inviting them for a walk or asking for a cigarette, then leading them to where gang members waited, Haaretz said.

The gang members allegedly threw rocks and bottles, and pepper-sprayed the victims, the newspaper said. The attacks took place in the schoolyard of the Experimental School, Independence Park or a pedestrian plaza downtown, the newspaper said.

Jerusalem police said a 14-year-old boy was the ringleader of the gang, which made nationalistic attacks against Arabs their goal, the paper said.

A number of attacks occurred in recent months and police suspect the gang was also responsible for attacking a Chilean tourist last month, whom they mistook for an Arab, the paper said.