Two Bat Yam residents charged in Japanika grenade attack linked to gang dispute

Police have concluded their investigation into a fragmentation grenade attack on a Japanika restaurant in Kiryat Ono, leading to charges against two residents of Bat Yam. The incident occurred on July 13 when the two suspects allegedly arrived at the restaurant around 2:00 a.m. on a scooter.

They reportedly threw the grenade toward the business's entrance before fleeing the scene. Investigators later searched the suspects' homes, seizing evidence and clothing that linked them to the attack. An 18-year-old was arrested shortly after the incident, with a second suspect, aged 22, apprehended later that week.

The police statement clarified that the grenade attack is connected to disputes among criminal gangs. This incident is part of a broader wave of organized gang activity, as eight other Japanika branches were damaged on the same day as the grenade attack. These damages are reportedly tied to a conflict between the Jarushi and Mosli crime organizations.

Most of the affected branches are franchises managed by the Jarushi family, operating under the chain's owner, businessman Barak Abramov. However, sources indicate that Abramov himself is not a suspect in this ongoing case.