Israeli Police Charge Three in Attempted Car Bomb Assassination in Ashdod

The Southern District Prosecutor's Office filed two indictments on Thursday at the Beersheba District Court against Matan Arviv, 29, from Hadera; Evitar Zerach Yaakobi, 34, from Rosh HaAyin; and Netai Legami, 22, from Elad. They are accused of involvement in an attempted assassination of a well-known criminal in Ashdod using a remote-detonated car bomb.

According to the indictments submitted by Attorney Alex Drenboim, the suspects conspired to kill the criminal amid ongoing disputes between gangs in southern Israel. They equipped themselves with tracking devices, explosives, and motorcycles to carry out the attack. The target, a prominent criminal in the southern region and a key focus of the Lahav 433 police unit, had tracking devices installed on two vehicles he and his associates used, allowing the suspects to monitor their movements remotely.

On July 1, Legami and accomplices traveled from Tirat Yehuda to Ashdod on motorcycles carrying the bomb. Legami attached the explosive device under one of the target's vehicles, ready for remote detonation. Later, Legami and another individual followed the tracked vehicles through Ashdod to detonate the bomb. However, the bomb fell off the car unnoticed by the driver and exploded on the street, causing significant damage to the road, nearby parked cars, windows, and buildings. Several residents suffered ear injuries from the blast.

After the explosion, Legami fled the scene but later returned to Tirat Yehuda where Arviv, Yaakobi, and others awaited. Police arrived after midnight; Arviv escaped initially, while Legami and Yaakobi were apprehended. Investigators also found that objects used in the attack were burned and hidden near Yaakobi's home to obstruct the investigation.

The indictments charge Arviv with attempted murder, weapons offenses, obstruction of justice, and damage with explosives. Yaakobi faces charges of aiding attempted murder, weapons offenses, obstruction, aiding damage with explosives, and interfering with police. Legami is charged with attempted murder, weapons offenses, obstruction, and damage with explosives. The case was investigated by the Lahav 433 unit.