Israeli Police Charge Three in Failed Ashdod Car Bomb Assassination Attempt

The Israeli State Prosecutor's Office filed two indictments at the Beersheba District Court against Matan Arviv, 29, from Hadera; Evitar Zerach Yaakobi, 34, from Rosh HaAyin; and Netai Lagami, 22, from Elad. The three are accused of attempting to murder a man by attaching an explosive device to his car in Ashdod, motivated by a personal dispute.

According to the indictments submitted by attorney Alex Drenboim from the Southern District Prosecutor's Office, the suspects and others conspired to kill the victim. They equipped themselves with tracking devices, explosives, and motorcycles, using a mobile app to monitor the target vehicles. On July 1, Lagami and two accomplices traveled from Tirat Yehuda to Ashdod on motorcycles carrying the bomb. Lagami attached the explosive under the victim's parked car, ready for remote detonation, and later received a rental car from Yaakobi to assist in the operation.

In the afternoon, Lagami and another individual followed the vehicle in Ashdod, intending to detonate the bomb. However, the device fell onto the road unnoticed by the driver and exploded two minutes later. The blast caused a crater in the street, damaged two parked cars, shattered windows of nearby buildings, and injured several residents' ears due to the explosion's force. After the explosion, Lagami and his companion fled back to Tirat Yehuda, where Arviv and Yaakobi awaited them. Police arrived at the scene; Arviv escaped initially, while Lagami and Yaakobi were arrested.

Subsequently, items used in the crime were set on fire and hidden near Yaakobi's home to obstruct the investigation. The prosecution requested the suspects remain in custody throughout the trial. Arviv and Lagami face charges including attempted murder, weapons possession and transport, obstruction of justice, and damage with explosives. Yaakobi is charged with aiding attempted murder, aiding weapons offenses, obstruction, aiding damage with explosives, and interfering with a police officer.

The investigation was conducted by the Central Unit of the Lachish District. Deputy Superintendent Shahar Levi, commander of the unit, emphasized the severity of using explosives in populated areas, highlighting the potential risk to innocent lives. He praised the professional and determined police work that led to the arrests and indictments and vowed to continue combating violent crime to protect public safety and residents' sense of security.