Four of the people filmed celebrating the Duma arson attack at a recent wedding, including the groom, have been arrested on incitement charges and taken in for questioning. The Judea and Samaria District Police's Nationalist Crimes Unit arrested Tuesday a man shown in the video in a t-shirt bearing the symbol of the outlawed Kach movement and dancing with a gun, a minor and a soldier in addition to the groom. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says the four are suspected of incitement and unlawful weapons possession. According to Israeli media reports, the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court ordered three of the suspects be released in accordance with a petition filed by attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir, while the military police investigations unit is set to release the fourth suspect, the soldier. Police, on the other hand, requested that the suspects' arrests be extended by five days and further put forward a motion to stay the court's ruling until Thursday, ensuring that they will not go free before then. The video in question, aired by Channel 10 last week, shows a rowdy crowd of skullcap-wearing youths brandishing rifles and dancing to music with lyrics calling for revenge. Some appear to be stabbing photos of Ali Dawabsha, who was killed along with his parents when suspected Jewish extremists firebombed his family home in Duma in July. The groom told Channel 10 he did not see his guests defiling photographs of Dawabsha. A total of 30 wedding guests are expected to be investigated by police. Ben-Gvir, who is representing the man who wore the Kach shirt, says his client was holding a toy gun rather than a real one. Meanwhile, the Lod District Court rejected on Tuesday a police appeal, deciding instead to release one of the people under investigation in connection with the Duma arson on house arrest for 10 days. The suspect had been detained for about a month, and was refused access to a lawyer for about 20 days. On Monday, police filed a prosecutor's statement at the Petach Tikva Magistrates' Court, warning that within a few days, an indictment would be filed against the suspect regarding a separate incident that took place about two years ago, when he was a minor. According to police, the suspect beat a Palestinian shepherd with the help of two accomplices. Attorney Chai Hever, who is representing the young man, said, "The investigation was blown out of proportion." The man's family, who has maintained his innocence throughout, said that during the man's month-long interrogation, the Jewish crime investigators at the Shin Bet security agency "were not calm at all, they were completely out of control." Prosecutor's statements for two others arrested in the case are expected to be filed on Wednesday, and police are likely to request the suspects' remand be extended until the indictment is filed.
Israel arrests Jewish suspects filmed celebrating deadly arson
Groom, soldier among those arrested following release of video showing young men celebrating the Duma arson attack at a wedding • Police expect to investigate a total of 30 wedding guests • Charges include incitement, unlawful weapons possession.
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