Avior Sasson, the main suspect in the murder of Beniahu Razi, was arrested Tuesday afternoon, a week after his photo was published in an unusual police appeal. The arrest was reported by Israeli media.
The arrest of Avior Sasson, the main suspect in the murder of Beniahu Razi, was reported Tuesday afternoon (14:23 Jerusalem), exactly one week after police took the unusual step of publishing his photo in a public appeal. Video footage released by Channel 12 shows the 17-year-old being seized inside a taxi en route to Jerusalem, as dozens of onlooking drivers witnessed the police operation. The arrest brings to a close a manhunt that had been ongoing since the murder.
The case has unfolded rapidly over the past week. Police first published Sasson's photo on Tuesday, July 21, in an appeal to the public. The Zioneer reported on Wednesday, July 22, at 21:05 Jerusalem, that a relative of the suspect had been arrested. On Thursday, July 23, multiple reports detailed further arrests: two additional suspects, including a minor, were taken into custody, and their detention was extended in court hearings later that day. Also on Thursday, a Prison Service officer was arrested on suspicion of conducting a romantic relationship with Sasson's brother and aiding his escape, as reported at 11:21 Jerusalem. By Thursday evening, reports indicated that Sasson had shaved his head and beard to change his appearance.
As The Zioneer reported, the investigation has involved a broad operational effort, including the detention of the suspect's 15-year-old sister in what sources described as a strategic pressure tactic. The police's decision to publish the suspect's photo was a notable departure from standard procedure.
The exact location of Tuesday's arrest and the identity of the arresting forces have not been disclosed. The motive and full circumstances of the murder of Beniahu Razi remain under investigation. The suspect is expected to be brought before a court for a remand hearing.
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