Three Arab-Israelis accused of assisting Tel Aviv gunman

Residents of northern town of Ar'ara allegedly assisted Nashat Milhem by hiding him, supplying food for three days.

By YASSER OKBI/ MAARIV HASHAVUA
Updated: JANUARY 24, 2016 19:03
People gather at the site where Israeli special forces shot dead Nashat Milhem, an Arab Israeli wanted for the murder of three people in a Tel Aviv shooting spree last week (photo credit: AFP PHOTO)
People gather at the site where Israeli special forces shot dead Nashat Milhem, an Arab Israeli wanted for the murder of three people in a Tel Aviv shooting spree last week
(photo credit: AFP PHOTO)
Prosecutors on Sunday filed pre-indictment motions at the Haifa Magistrate's Court against three men who were accused of assisting Nashat Milhem, who killed two and injured six in an attack on Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Street on New Year's Day.
One of the arrested men was allegedly involved in helping to hide Milhem, and provided him with food for three days.
As a result of the move by the authorities, the arrest warrants for the three men were extended by an additional three days, to allow for the submission of formal charges.
A gag order remains on the identities of the suspects and the details of the investigation, but it is known that they are residents of Ar'ara, the Arab town where Milhem came from and was subsequently killed in a shootout with Police a week after the attack.
It should be noted that although the police and Shin Bet had initially assumed that Milhem had acted alone, and with nationalistic motives. However, following the arrest of eight Arab-Israeli citizens from around Ar'ara in direct relation to the attack, it was thought that Milhem had received assistance both before as well as after the shooting.
Ali Saadi, a lawyer representing one of the detainees, said on Sunday: "My client was forced to assist in the attack, Milhem threatened to kill him, as he killed the taxi driver if he refused."