A Jerusalem resident has been indicted for allegedly attempting to set a 12-year-old minor on fire during a bus ride earlier this month, according to a statement issued by the State Attorney’s Office.
The indictment, filed Sunday by attorney Hili Bergman with the Jerusalem District Court, identified the suspect as Yaakov Yisrael Berkowitz, 31.
Berkowitz allegedly poured gasoline on the victim while on the bus following an earlier confrontation with the victim's father over supposed harassment toward children at a local synagogue they both attend.
According to the indictment, in the months preceding the incident, the defendant repeatedly harassed children who attended the synagogue where he prayed. The victim’s father later confronted him about the behavior on an unspecified date.
Plotting his revenge
This confrontation led Berkowitz to start planning his revenge earlier this month, according to the indictment.
"The defendant decided to harm either the minor or his father, obtained a bottle filled with gasoline, followed the family, and later boarded a bus on which the minor was traveling," read the indictment.
Berkowitz allegedly produced a lighter and attempted to set the boy on fire multiple times, but the device malfunctioned, allowing the victim to move away with only minor injuries to his hands, according to a police report.
Passengers who noticed the commotion alerted the bus driver, who immediately stopped the bus, unintentionally allowing the defendant to flee the scene. He was later apprehended by an Israel Police Special Patrol Unit (YASAM) officer and IDF troops operating in the area.
The indictment charges the defendant with attempted murder, attempted arson, and unlawful assault.