Tel Aviv man in his 30s arrested over alleged assault in Jaffa

A Tel Aviv resident in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a young woman in Jaffa, and police said they will seek to extend his detention in court depending on the investigation findings. The suspect, described as a homeless man who appears to be mentally unstable, was located in southern Tel Aviv.

The complaint was filed Friday night at the Jaffa police station in the Ayalon District. According to the woman, also a Tel Aviv resident in her 30s, she was walking on HaHarutzim Street in Jaffa when a broad-shouldered man deliberately bumped into her, knocked her to the ground, stood over her, muttered words she could not understand, and then walked away.

The victim was assisted by another person who posted about the alleged attack on social media, including documentation of the incident. Police said that after the video spread online, they opened an investigation at the Jaffa station and carried out overt and covert steps to identify the suspect.

In a statement, police said the man was arrested a short time ago and is being transferred to the Jaffa station for questioning. “According to the investigation findings, the police will request to extend his arrest in court,” the statement said.