Police file charges against two in arson attack on Japanika restaurant

Tel Aviv police have filed prosecutor's declarations against two Rehovot residents in connection with an arson attack on a Japanika restaurant branch in Givatayim. The incident, which occurred on July 12, involved two masked individuals pouring a flammable substance in front of the restaurant and setting it ablaze before fleeing on a two-wheeled vehicle. The fire caused damage to the building and its contents, but fortunately, no one was injured.

This arson attack is part of a larger pattern of violence targeting Japanika branches across central Israel, with previous incidents involving grenades, pipe bombs, and attempted arson. These attacks are being investigated against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict between the Musli and Jarushi crime organizations, which has been linked to numerous violent incidents in recent months. The Tel Aviv District Central Unit utilized technological means to track down and identify the perpetrators, despite suspected attempts to conceal their tracks.

The investigation led to the arrest of the first suspect, an 18-year-old Rehovot resident, on July 27, followed by the arrest of a second 18-year-old suspect from the same city several days later. Searches of their homes reportedly uncovered evidence and clothing items that investigators believe link them to the arson. The suspects' detentions were extended multiple times, and the filing of prosecutor's declarations signals that indictments are imminent.

The arrests in the Givatayim case follow similar charges being filed against suspects in another incident targeting a Japanika branch in Kiryat Ono, where a fragmentation grenade, believed to be stolen IDF equipment, was thrown. The ongoing dispute between the Jarushi and Musli crime organizations has seen at least nine Japanika branches damaged in a single day, with most affected branches being franchises operated by the Jarushi family. Businessman Barak Abramov, owner of the targeted chain, is reportedly affiliated with elements in the Jarushi family, making the branches targets for elements affiliated with the Musli organization.