Police: 5 suspects admit 'hatred of Jews' motivated J'lem stoning attack that wounded toddler

Suspects admit to and reenacted stoning in capital's Armon Hanatziv neighborhood; set to face remand hearing.

By THE POST STAFF, JPOST.COM STAFF
Stone-throwing Palestinian 370 (photo credit: Reuters)
Stone-throwing Palestinian 370
(photo credit: Reuters)
Police arrested five Arab youths from east Jerusalem suspected of carrying out the Thursday stoning attack that injured two-year-old Abigail Ben-Zion in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood, it was revealed Tuesday after a gag order was lifted.
According to police, the suspects, arrested on Monday, admitted to throwing stones at the vehicle carrying the toddler and reinacted the incident. The suspects told investigators that they were motivated by hatred of Jews, according to Israeli media reports.
The suspects were expected to have their remands extended at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on Tuesday evening.
Immediately after the stoning incident, police began searching the area for the attackers. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that stones were thrown at a number of vehicles in the area on the same night.
Police chief Insp.-Gen. Yohanan Danino praised Jerusalem Police investigators for locating the suspects: "Their professional work brought about the quick cracking of the case, the apprehension of the suspects and their being brought to stand trial."
Danino said that "stone-throwing is an act of terror in every way, and the police treat it as such."
Security forces have noted an increase in incidents dubbed "stone terror" in recent weeks. Last Tuesday a woman was lightly wounded from stones thrown at her vehicle near the Mount of Olives, and in the past two months several other similar incidents have been reported in the area, which did not cause injuries.
Last march, another toddler, Adele Biton was seriously wounded in a car accident caused by stones thrown at her family's vehicle.