Police release suspect in attack on Haifa falafel stand owner

Police released Gilad Hildesheim, the suspect in the attack on George Abu Shakara, the owner of a falafel stand in Haifa, after four days of detention. His attorney argued that the police rushed to conclusions. MK Gilad Kariv visited the victim and called for restoring safety to the streets.

Police today released Gilad Hildesheim, a 40-year-old Haifa resident, who was arrested on suspicion of attacking George Abu Shakara, the 76-year-old owner of a well-known falafel stand in Wadi Nisnas, Haifa. Hildesheim was released after four days of detention, without being brought to court again, even though police had previously announced their intention to file an indictment and request his detention until the end of proceedings. His attorney, Adv. Yael Tov-El, stated that his version was accepted and that the police rushed to conclusions. Abu Shakara was attacked on Saturday morning on his way to the stand; according to him, two men chased him and beat him with a stick. Police said the attack was not nationalist in nature, but during a hearing on extending detention, suspicion of a racist motive arose. MK Gilad Kariv visited Abu Shakara and called for restoring the sense of security to the streets.