Suspect arrested in gangland shooting

Police detain alleged underworld figure Eyal Sofer on suspicion of attempting to kill crime figure; attack was possible retaliation.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Criminalit? (photo credit: )
Criminalit?
(photo credit: )
Police arrested alleged underworld figure Eyal Sofer on Wednesday on suspicion of attempting to kill alleged crime figure Charlie Abutbul in Netanya two months ago.
In the September 7 attack, Abutbul was shot at by unknown gunmen riding a motorcycle in Netanya as he sat in a parked car with his son near the Carmel Hotel. No one was wounded in the shooting.
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Police said Wednesday that the attack was in retaliation for an attempted hit allegedly ordered against Sofer by Abutbul in August, when five suspects in possession of firearms were arrested en route to carrying out the assassination. Abutbul was also arrested in connection with the alleged plot, but was later released due to lack of evidence.
During a remand hearing at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, Sofer’s attorney stressed that his client had no criminal record, and argued that the police’s request to keep Sofer in custody for 10 days was unfounded.
Rishon Lezion Magistrate Judge Irit Weinberg- Notowitz extended Sofer’s remand until November 14.
In August 2008, Abutbul was badly wounded in a gun attack. He was struck by bullets as he stood in a kiosk in the vicinity of the Bat Ha’ikar (The Farmer’s Daughter) restaurant, which is owned by his family. Abutbul survived the attack.
Three other people who were in the kiosk at the time were wounded.
Earlier this year, the three branches of the Bat Ha’ikar eatery were targeted by grenade and firebomb attacks.