Suspected daytime sexual assault in Azor leads to arrest of West Bank resident

A 20-year-old woman filed a complaint with police on Thursday saying she was sexually assaulted in the local council of Azor, while walking near her home. According to her account, a man ambushed her in broad daylight on a public street, followed her, approached suddenly and attacked her.

Police said surveillance footage collected during the investigation, and published earlier in the day by Walla, appears to show the suspect walking behind the woman, coming up to her, hugging her against her will and trying to kiss her. When he failed, he fled the scene.

The case triggered an investigation by the Holon station in the Ayalon district, with cooperation between the Tel Aviv, Southern and Judea and Samaria districts, together with IDF officials. Those efforts led within hours to the suspect’s location at his home in Dahariya, near Hebron.

The suspect, a 36-year-old resident of the territories, was arrested and taken to the Holon police station for questioning. Police said they plan to bring him to Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court and seek an extension of his detention, while the investigation continues.