A man from the central city of Lod was arrested Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping two Palestinian minors who had illegally entered Israel, and holding them for several days without food or water.
Police said the youths, 14 and 16, were kept in a bomb shelter at an apartment building for three days before managing to use the suspect’s phone to alert law enforcement.
Officers dispatched to the scene managed to free the two after breaking the lock on the shelter, according to video released by police.
The suspect, 50, was arrested after a search of the building.
The statement did not say how the two minors entered Israel, nor how the suspect first came into contact with them.
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A police statement said officers were questioning the Lod resident, including on suspicion of illegal employment.
הותר לפרסום: תושב לוד חשוד שחטף שני נערים בני 14 והחזיק אותם במקלט ללא אוכל ומים
לכל הפרטים – https://t.co/0VxAZsx99W@ali_mograbi pic.twitter.com/Dx3OQ9tqrO
— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) December 3, 2022
He was due to appear in court on Sunday for a remand hearing.
