Throwing grenades, exploding explosive devices and shooting incidents at houses have become part of the routine in the city of Petah Tikva during the past months.
A conflict between local gangs resulted in a series of violent incidents that occur every evening and make the city's residents miserable.
The confrontation reached the point of killing Yossi Sarosi, a young man in the 20's, in a car explosion that took place last week on Zeev Brenda Street in the city.
"There are criminals here who walk around and live on my street," said the resident of the street where the explosion happened in a conversation with Walla.
"I've been living here for four years and there was nothing here, and in the last few months all these events started. Just a month ago, there was an explosion here on Rimon Street."
Yossi Sarosi, killed in the car explosion in Petah Tikva/documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law
"In the last few months, all these events started."
Car explosion scene in Petah Tikva/Official site, Omer Shapira Israel Fire and Rescue
According to sources privy to the details, the series of violent incidents began following a dispute between two local criminals over money and areas of control.
The son of a businessman from Moshav Kfar Mesh, who deals in loans on the gray market, got into a conflict with a young criminal in his 20s, who was arrested several times on suspicion of assassination attempts and throwing grenades.
The confrontation between the two heated up and led to an unusual incident: a squad of criminals arrived at the businessman's family home in Kfar Mesh, and fired at the house indiscriminately.
The harsh reaction was not long in coming - officials in the underworld offered an "elimination contract" including a large sum of money on the head of the young criminal and his associates, which only fueled the fire and led to many more life-threatening incidents.
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At the end of December unknown persons shot at the house of another criminal in the city, whose daughter is married to the same young criminal who got into trouble.
A day later, a grenade was thrown at another house of a relative of the young offender.
Two days later, a spray grenade was thrown at the businessman's family home in Kfar Mesh as revenge.
A few days later, a kiosk shop belonging to the young offender's father was set on fire.
Officials in the underworld offered an "elimination contract" that includes a large sum of money on the head of the young criminal and his associates.
Car bombing scene in Petah Tikva/official website, documentation of MDA operations
Car bombing scene in Petah Tikva/official website, documentation of MDA operations
Another series of violent incidents broke out in the city following another conflict that is going on at the same time.
The same loan officer from Kfar Mesh had a partnership in the real estate business with a known businessman and another person, the partnership fell apart - and led to damage to the supply of projects to the contractors with whom they had deals. The contractors were furious and decided to invite criminal elements from the Triangle area to respond on their behalf. As a result, unknown persons shot and threw grenades at houses of the businessman and of women who had contact with him.
The scene of a car explosion in Petah Tikva/Erez Harel
Car bombing scene in Petah Tikva/official website, documentation of MDA operations
Thus, the same "gang war" continued until the middle of January, and at this point sources testify that the parties reached a "forgiveness" and with it a lull in the violence in Petah Tikva.
But then, suddenly, last week a car explosion took place in the city where Sarosi, who is considered a close friend of one of those involved in the conflict, was murdered.
In the investigation that was launched, the police officers are checking the connection to the previous events and the ongoing conflict.
The commander of the Central District, Superintendent Avi Biton, conducted an assessment of the situation at the scene together with the commanding officers and in the end assigned the investigation to the central unit of the Central District.
A gag order on the details of the investigation was placed on her that day.
A statement issued by the police following the car bombing incident reads: "The Central District Commander, Superintendent Avi Biton, stated that the criminal conduct in this incident, in which an explosive device is set off in the heart of a residential neighborhood, is no different from a terrorist incident and our response will be appropriate, with all the strength and with all the units and means until the incarceration of those involved Behind bars. In addition, as part of the assessment of the situation, he suggested examining the use of IDF at this time, including building explosives that are suspected of flowing to the perpetrators of the crime from combat zones, and emphasized that integrated enforcement should be focused on the issue, for the sake of public safety."
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