Protection racket plague in central Israel - phone store torched, suspect claims: "They sent me to collect a debt"

Police have filed a prosecutor's statement against Ismail Amin, 22, from Bat Yam, suspected of setting fire to a phone store in Bat Yam last August. The suspect claims he was sent to collect a protection debt; the victim denies it. A hand grenade converted into an explosive device was found in his home.

Police have filed a prosecutor's statement against Ismail Amin, 22, from Bat Yam, suspected of setting fire to the 'Tera' phone store at 127 Balfour Street in Bat Yam. The store was torched on two consecutive nights last August: an attempted arson on August 8 and a fire that caused damage on August 9. The suspect claims he was sent to the location to collect a protection debt, a claim the victim denies. During a search of Amin's home, a hand grenade converted into an explosive device was discovered, which was handled by Tel Aviv District bomb disposal experts. The prosecution is expected to file an indictment and request detention until the end of proceedings.

Protection racket plague in central Israel - phone store torched, suspect claims: "They sent me to collect a debt"