In the most high-profile mob-war attack till date in Israel, the head of one of Israel's most notorious crime families was killed in a huge car explosion
JERUSALEM: In the most high-profile mob-war attack till date in Israel, the head of one of Israel's most notorious crime families was killed in a huge car explosion in central Tel Aviv on Monday.
Ya'acov Alperon was killed in a massive explosion that ripped through his car near Namir Road in one of the busy areas of Tel Aviv, which the police suspect was set off by a remote control.
A13-year-old boyanda passenger in another car traveling behind the targeted vehicle were also injured in the attack.
"I was next to the traffic light when I heard a tremendous explosion. I went over to the intersection and saw two people lying on the crosswalk and then I saw the ripped car," an eyewitness was quoted by the Israel Radio.
"Terrifying and frightening are not the words to describe the scene. I thought it was a terrorist attack. That was the first thing I thought," she added.
Police suspect that the explosion was rigged by his rivals to settle personal scores and refuted the possibility that it was a nationalist attack carried out by Palestinian terrorists.
Israel's law enforcement agencies have been criticised for their failure to prevent inter-gang rivalry which has left at least a dozen gangsters dead. Eight bystanders have also been killed in these attacks over the past three years.
Monday's assassination is the most high-profile mob attack to date, targeting The Alperons, who have encountered numerous police interrogations andpassed through multiple courtrooms but the Israeli police was now focusing on brothers Ya'akov and Nissim, who head the family.
Ya'akov Alperon was killed just days after the prosecution filed charges for indictment against his son, Dror and another minor for alleged extortion, threats and assault of a police officer on duty.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}