Police arrest two suspects in Beitar arson attack

Both men are members of hardcore Beitar fan group “La Familia”; one suspect confessed to torching the soccer team's offices.

Fans shout at Betar Jerusalem match 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Fans shout at Betar Jerusalem match 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Police on Tuesday arrested two suspects in the torching earlier this month of the Beitar Jerusalem FC offices in Bet Vegan in Jerusalem.
The two men, both members of the hardcore Beitar fan group “La Familia,” are in their 20s and from southern Israel. Both will be brought for a remand extension at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Jerusalem Police said that one of the men has already confessed to torching the building, and went with police to the scene to reenact how the crime was carried out.
Police added that the man admitted that the arson was a response to the team's hiring of two Chechen Muslim players Gabriel Kadiev and Zaur Sadayev, a move that has been the subject of harsh criticism from more extreme members of the Beitar fanbase. The man also said that the arson was planned out for some time and was not a spontaneous act.
Police said they expect more arrests to follow.