Criminal Gang Targets Major Israeli Pizza Chain with Arson, Shooting, and Extortion

By יולן כהן

Translated & summarized from N12 by baba

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Hebrew · 1 newsroom

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A criminal gang in Israel has attacked a major pizza chain with arson and shootings to extort cash, prompting a police manhunt.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

A criminal gang attacked a major Israeli pizza chain with arson and shootings.
Masked assailants were filmed setting fires and shooting at branches.
The gang demanded cash envelopes be left at the branches under threat of continued violence.
One branch owner filed a police complaint leading to an ongoing manhunt.
The attacks mark an escalation in violent crime against businesses in Israel.

A prominent pizza chain in Israel has been targeted in recent weeks by a criminal gang that carried out arson attacks and shootings at its branches. Masked assailants were caught on camera committing acts of sabotage, including setting fire to a branch in the early evening and fleeing the scene, as well as shooting at another branch while riding a scooter. The gang sent threatening messages to the chain's owners demanding cash envelopes be left at the branches, warning that violent incidents would continue if their extortion demands were not met.

Following these attacks and extortion attempts, one of the branch owners filed an official complaint with the police. Law enforcement is currently conducting a manhunt to apprehend those responsible for the shootings and arson. The incidents represent a troubling escalation in criminal activity targeting businesses and large retail chains across Israel, crossing a new threshold of brazen violence and intimidation.

The police are intensifying efforts to stop the gang and prevent further harm to the pizza chain and other commercial enterprises. The case highlights ongoing challenges in combating organized crime and protecting businesses from violent extortion schemes.

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