18-year-old suspected of attacking a bus driver: investigation details and suspect's testimony

The 18-year-old suspect was brought to court this morning, Tuesday, after being arrested on suspicion of a severe assault on a bus driver in Modi'in Illit. At the police's request, his detention was extended by three additional days, until Thursday, for the purpose of continuing the investigation.

The incident occurred last Wednesday, after midnight. A public transport driver traveling on a service line from Bnei Brak to Modi'in Illit reported that he was attacked during the trip by several young men. As a result of the attack, he sustained bodily injuries and required medical treatment.

After receiving the report, an investigation was opened at the Modi'in Illit station. The driver gave testimony in which he described what happened during the trip, and at the same time, the security camera footage from inside the bus was examined.

According to the driver's testimony and the footage collected, one of the young men managed to break through the protective partition separating the driver from the passengers, reached him while he was sitting in his seat, and began to beat him. In the footage, the suspect is seen punching the driver and kicking him.

The incident did not end with the first attack. The court's decision noted that after the suspect left the bus, he returned to it and attacked the driver again. The judge described it as a "serious assault incident" and noted that the suspect "left the bus and then retraced his steps and attacked the bus driver again."

During the attack, there were other people present who watched what was happening. According to the footage, they did not intervene and did not try to stop the violence or assist the driver.

During his interrogation, the suspect provided a different version of events and claimed that he felt threatened by the driver. According to him, the driver told him that he would "die tonight" and even made a gesture towards him, but did not touch him. During the hearing, the police also addressed the background to the incident and stated that "this happens in the Modi'in Illit area to drivers of a certain background."

As part of the investigation, actions were taken to identify those involved. Investigators arrived several times at the suspect's place of residence, but he was not found there. Yesterday, in the evening hours, the suspect arrived on his own at the Bnei Brak police station and turned himself in. From there, he was transferred for interrogation at the Modi'in Illit station on suspicion of assaulting a public servant and assault causing actual bodily harm. At the end of his interrogation last night, he was detained.