Police arrested three more Tel Aviv residents in their 30s on November 3 on suspicion of extortion by threats, extortion by force and aggravated assault in an ongoing arson and extortion investigation. They were taken for questioning.
Police said suspects in the case contacted men through Telegram and invited them to apartments for purported sexual encounters with a minor. Once there, the men were allegedly severely assaulted, threatened and told to pay hundreds of thousands of shekels. The Tel Aviv District’s Central Unit and the South Tel Aviv police station are investigating.
The investigation also covers apartment fires on HaYarkon and Ben Yehuda streets in central Tel Aviv and a fire in a building lobby in Holon on October 12, 2026. The suspected arson attacks allegedly stemmed from a dispute between criminals and targeted a 41-year-old Tel Aviv resident.
A 43-year-old Hadera resident and a Rehovot resident in his 20s were arrested on October 12 on suspicion of carrying out the arson attacks. A 24-year-old Ashdod resident was later arrested on suspicion of directing them and sending them to set the fires.
A Tel Aviv resident in his 30s had also been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the extortion. A court extended his detention and that of the three arson suspects.
