Several suspected members of the Hariri crime organization were arrested in south Tel Aviv on Monday, on suspicion of attempting to extort a businessman, following an operation by the Israel Police’s Serious and International Crime Unit, part of Lahav 433 – The National Crime Unit.
The arrests took place in broad daylight on a busy street, where several men were seen lying face down along the sidewalk with their hands behind their backs, an unusual scene even for south Tel Aviv.
According to police suspicions, the suspects were on their way to confront a businessman while carrying knives. Before reaching their intended destination, they were intercepted and arrested by Lahav 433 investigators as part of an operation targeting the Hariri crime organization.
Footage circulated from the scene shows several suspects restrained on the ground before being taken into custody by masked police officers.
In the videos, the men can be seen lying along the sidewalk, some dressed in black and others wearing lighter clothing, with their hands positioned behind their backs.
Businesses, parked vehicles and scooters are visible nearby, as what began as an ordinary day on a busy south Tel Aviv street turned into a police operation targeting one of Israel’s prominent organized crime groups.
The Hariri family is considered a major force in Israeli organized crime, particularly within the Arab community.
The organization, regarded as one of the country’s largest and most cohesive criminal networks, has once again become the focus of an investigation by Lahav 433’s Serious and International Crime Unit.
Source: www.jpost.com
