4 arrested in capital after praising terrorist
Border Police arrested four east Jerusalem residents on Tuesday who were spray painting and hanging posters praising Misbah Abu Sabih, the terrorist from the Ammunition Hill attack in October 2016, who killed Levana Malihi and St.-Sgt.-Maj. Yosef Kirma and wounded six others.
Two of those arrested were caught in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi Joz during the act of spray painting. After the arrest, police found more posters with Abu Sabih’s picture among their belongings.
The other two, who were also involved in the act according to the police, were caught several hours later and taken in for questioning to the Police Central Unit.
Police asked the court to extend the suspects’ remand for seven days.
After examining the evidence, Police Central Unit investigators asked the state prosecutor to question the suspects about illegal unionizing and identifying with a terrorist act.
Police said in a statement that they will prevent every activity that glorifies a terrorist attack “conducted by despicable terrorists who have taken the lives of innocent citizens and law enforcement personnel.”
The statement added that such measures are part of a continuous effort by law enforcement authorities to prevent residents from encouraging or taking part in terrorist activities.
Last month, following a police investigation, Rami Fahouri, a 26-year-old east Jerusalem resident, was indicted by the Jerusalem District prosecution for being a member of the Shabab al-Aksa terrorist group.
The organization was outlawed in August 2011, and in November 2016, it was declared by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman to be a terrorist organization.
Fahouri is suspected of being a member of the organization’s WhatsApp group, in which he and his friends were updating members on Jews entering the Temple Mount compound.