J’lem resident arrested for deadly shooting of Palestinian

Judea and Samaria police arrest man suspected of killing Udi Nahar Kadus, 19, near the West Bank village of Arak Burin.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
police arrest handcuffs suspect cops criminal 311 (R) (photo credit: Benoit Tessier / Reuters)
police arrest handcuffs suspect cops criminal 311 (R)
(photo credit: Benoit Tessier / Reuters)
A 25-year-old resident of Jerusalem was arrested on Wednesday by Judea and Samaria Police on suspicion of shooting dead a Palestinian youth in March, after rocks were thrown at him and other Israelis who were walking near the West Bank village of Arak Burin.
Police said the suspect was arrested after eye witnesses provided a description that fit his features, and after “many complex investigative operations” were carried out by Judea and Samaria Police’s Central Unit.
The suspect will be charged with manslaughter, police added. He is due to appear before the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning.
The gunshot victim, Udi Nahar Kadus, 19, was shot dead after a group of Israelis were attacked with rocks, a police spokeswoman told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday evening.
“We know rocks were thrown, followed by the shooting,” the spokeswoman said.
Dep.-Cmdr. Eli Yesayed, head of the Judea and Samaria Central Unit, said, “This is a sensitive investigation involving many complex aspects. Our aim was to trace down the main suspect quickly.”
The case material has now been handed over to state prosecutors.
The suspect’s attorney, Ariel Atari, told Army Radio that he was baffled by the arrest. “Law enforcement authorities have already said that this is apparently a case of self defense. Hence this arrest is bizarre,” he said.
Also on Wednesday night, Judea and Samaria Police arrested three female Israeli minors on suspicion of setting fire to a Palestinian vehicle in Hebron several months ago.
Two of the suspects had their custody extended by a day by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, while a third will appear before the court on Thursday morning.
“The arrests came following an intensive investigation,” the police spokeswoman said.