Three charged in alleged extortion shooting as police arrest 52 in separate sweep

Three Nazareth residents have been indicted over allegations that they threatened a businessman for money and fired at his home, Israel Police announced Tuesday, November 10. The announcement followed a separate nationwide crackdown on suspected protection rackets that resulted in 52 arrests.

The defendants, aged 23, 18 and 17, were charged Monday at Haifa District Court. According to the indictment, they fired 48 bullets at the Kafr Manda resident’s home while he was inside with his partner and three children. Some rounds entered the house, but nobody was injured.

Police began investigating in early October after receiving a report that a stranger had demanded NIS 400,000 ($126,955) from a northern resident and threatened to harm him if he refused. Gunfire subsequently targeted his house and a gas station he owns. In a later telephone call, the demand rose to NIS 1 million ($317,482), accompanied by threats to shoot him in the legs and blow up the station.

Northern district officers and Border Police investigated the allegations. On October 8, officers positioned near the businessman’s home witnessed shots being fired from a vehicle toward the property. Police fired at the vehicle, which escaped. It was later found in an open area, where officers recovered an M-16 rifle and other evidence, according to police.

The suspected shooters were detained hours later while heading toward Nazareth, and police said they had been wounded by officers’ gunfire. Another suspect was arrested over alleged involvement in the shooting. Police alleged that his role was to keep the shooters’ route clear, and that he crashed into a patrol vehicle blocking the escape route as he drove away. The group was suspected of operating a protection racket for a major criminal organization.

After the investigation concluded, Haifa state prosecutors filed charges including shooting offenses, extortion through threats, transporting a weapon and reckless driving, along with other offenses. Prosecutors also asked the court to keep the three defendants in custody until the proceedings end.

In the separate operation announced Monday, about 500 police and Border Police officers raided dozens of locations across the country. The operation, named Guardians of the Shadow, followed a 10-month undercover investigation conducted with the Lahav 433 national crime unit and the State Prosecution Office.

Police said those arrested were suspected of systematically demanding tens of thousands of shekels in protection payments. Numerous contractors were allegedly forced to purchase supposed guarding services, paying tens of thousands of shekels for each site without receiving any actual service. According to police, the people offering protection were also responsible for creating the threats against the properties. All 52 suspects were due to appear Tuesday at Haifa Magistrate’s Court for remand hearings.

Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy praised cooperation among officers from different districts. He said payments made under threats to a person or their livelihood deprive business owners of the freedom to operate, and stressed the need for determination against offenders and sensitivity toward victims.