Ashdod gang members who stabbed people ‘randomly’ arrested

Suspects, 5 adults and 5 minors, stabbed 2 people on Ashdod beach, fatally wounding one, leaving second man in critical condition.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
police car 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
police car 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Ten youths suspected of belonging to a gang that attacked and stabbed people in Ashdod at random were arrested on Monday for attempted murder.
In June, the suspects, five adults and five minors, stabbed two people on an Ashdod beach, fatally wounding one man and leaving the second man in critical condition, according to police.
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Three more people were subsequently stabbed by the gang in Magic Park Ashdod; two people were moderately wounded.
The gang was also allegedly involved in a mass brawl at the Nahal Lachish Park, in which 13 youths were wounded, including some who were stabbed.
Monday’s arrests followed a lengthy investigation by Ashdod police and the Lachish police subdistrict’s central unit.
One hundred fifty people were questioned.
Cmdr. Yosi Pritani, head of the police southern district, said he ordered additional resources to be made available to officers investigating the gang.
Lt.-Cmdr. Alon Levavi, head of the Lachish central unit, said the arrests represented “a clear police of zero tolerance toward violence and thuggery... and the improvement of the sense of security of residents.”
The suspects are due to be charged on Thursday.