Shock and horror gripped the Beduin city of Rahat on Wednesday, after a local
mother was arrested on suspicion of brutally murdering three of her children
earlier in the day.
The children, aged eight, four and two months, were
found stabbed to death in the family home, while a three-year-old daughter
survived the attack and is currently hospitalized in Soroka University Medical
Center in moderate condition.
Negev District Police said the mother is
the primary suspect but that they are continuing to examine other possible
angles in the investigation.
Police said the mother had no known history
of violent behavior and that the family has never been visited by the social
services department.
Deputy superintendent David Shariki, head of the
investigations branch of the Negev police, called the crime scene “highly
disturbing,” adding that police were very quickly able to tie the mother to the
murder.
Police are also examining the mother’s mental state at the time
of the killings, to see if she was suffering from postpartum depression or
severe levels of stress.
Rahat Mayor Faiz Abu Seheban called the triple
infanticide “a shocking incident.” “We don’t know how this took place. We are all joining the family in their time
of mourning and they need our support at this time. This brings sorrow to all of
us,” he said.
Abu Seheban added that the family was “normative” and was
never known to have any problems.
The mother will be brought to the
Beersheba Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning, where police will seek an
extension of her remand.