Man Arrested for Allegedly Setting $190,000 Concrete Mixer Ablaze

Police in northern Israel have arrested a 33-year-old resident of the village of Nin on suspicion of setting fire to a concrete mixer valued at approximately 700,000 shekels (about $190,000) in the industrial zone of Beit She'an. The Northern District Prosecution is expected to file an indictment against him and request his detention until the end of legal proceedings.

The incident occurred on the night of August 14-15, when police received a report of a truck on fire in a truck parking lot in the industrial area. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, which caused significant damage to the vehicle. Investigators determined the fire was started using flammable material.

Security camera footage collected by police identified a suspicious vehicle arriving shortly before the fire. Further investigation of the vehicle's movements led investigators to gas station footage in the north. According to the police, this footage clearly shows the suspect filling canisters with fuel on his way to the scene of the arson.

The suspect was arrested on August 24, and his detention has been extended periodically. The indictment is expected to be filed on Thursday.

A similar incident occurred in March 2025 in Majdal Shams, where a local resident allegedly set fire to his former employer's vehicle following a financial dispute. In that case, the suspect was accused of using flammable material, a hammer, and a lighter to break the vehicle's window and throw a bottle of flammable liquid inside. An indictment was filed against him in that case as well.