JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Shin Bet security service released the details of the murder of Palestinian teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir.
Three suspects, one age 30 and the other two minor, from Jerusalem and its environs, have confessed to the murder, according to the Shin Bet, which released a report on the investigation on Monday. The suspects are all part of the same extended family.
According to the investigation, the choice of Abu Khdeir was random, and came after an unsuccessful attempt the previous evening to kidnap an 8-year-old boy, which was thwarted by the child’s mother.
The investigation also found that the decision to kidnap and kill a Palestinian was premeditated, since the suspects had come into possession of supplies, including handcuffs and gasoline, in advance. The suspects also told interrogators that their crime was in retaliation for the kidnap and murder of three Israeli teens, Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, whose funerals were held hours before their abduction of Abu Khdeir.
They snatched Abu Khdeir at nearly 4 a.m. on July 2 and took him to the Jerusalem Forest where they beat him on the head and then set fire to him.
A court-imposed gag order has been lifted on all details of the case except for the identity of the suspects, in order to prevent revenge attacks against the family.
Haaretz reported that the suspects likely will claim temporary insanity. An indictment is expected to be filed by Friday.
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