Suspect Identified in Kidnapping of 10-Year-Old Yali from Petah Tikva

The identity of the suspect in the kidnapping of 10-year-old Yali Sofer from Petah Tikva has been released: Yigal Buskila, a 19-year-old homeless man from Jerusalem. Buskila allegedly abducted Yali and took him from Petah Tikva to Bnei Brak. After hours of distress for Yali's family, a resident of Bnei Brak spotted Buskila and the child wandering in the city late at night and alerted the police.

Buskila's arrest was extended by the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court, with Judge Oren Boaz permitting the publication of his name. Buskila's attorneys claim he has an intellectual disability. During his interrogation, Buskila denied kidnapping Yali, stating he found the boy lost and helped him return home. However, a police representative told the court that Yali provided new details to investigators this week, strengthening the suspicion against Buskila. The police representative added that at one point, Buskila took the child to a shelter, from which the child escaped, and Buskila pursued him before a citizen noticed the boy and called the police.

In addition to the Yali kidnapping, Buskila is suspected in two other cases involving children. Following the publication of Yali's case, parents of two girls and one boy contacted the police, identifying Buskila as having harmed their children. According to police, one incident involved harassment and threats, while another involved a knife and threats. Police also detailed an incident from several months ago in Hadera, where Buskila allegedly waited outside the homes of two girls, causing them fear. Police stated that while the incidents are not identical, they demonstrate Buskila's dangerousness.