Police arrested and charged a 28-year-old Kiryat Ata man on Sunday over his alleged involvement in last week’s attempted arson at a Haifa Japanika branch.
They said the case is linked to a broader wave of grenade and shooting attacks on restaurants in the center of the country. His remand was extended until Monday.
Four others have been arrested over their suspected involvement in the attacks on Japanika branches, including Musli crime family boss Yossi Musli, an 18-year-old, and two men in their 30s.
In the span of a few hours on Tuesday, police said there were two grenade explosions, a pipe bomb attack, and an attempted arson. Three of the incidents targeted Japanika branches, owned by businessman and Beitar Jerusalem owner Barak Abramov. Later, police responded to a shooting incident at the Herzliya branch.
Perpetrators used a stolen IDF grenade during the Netanya attack.
Jarushi crime family associate turns himself in
Also on Sunday, Jarushi crime family associate Issa Alohuah turned himself in to the police at 3 a.m. before his official arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime.
Police requested an extension of Alohuah’s detention by six days after he was brought to the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court, but the court granted only a three-day extension.
Japanika probe goes international as FBI, Romanian police join investigation
The investigation into the attacks on Japanika has expanded internationally, with the FBI and Romanian police now involved, N12 reported on Friday.
Channel 12 legal analyst Guy Peleg said authorities believe that Eran Haya, the head of a crime organization who is being held in Brooklyn, is connected to the matter.
“The FBI raided his cell and found cellphones that he had ‘stashed’ there,” he said.
“The Romanian security service questioned Yossi Musli’s brother, Eli Musli, based on materials transferred by Israel Police. The Romanian authorities made it clear to Musli that if this continues, they will shut down the businesses in Romania. There will be results and achievements in this case.”
Jerusalem Post Staff, Goldie Katz, Esther Davis, and Hodaya Ran contributed to this report.