Tel Aviv Police Arrest Three More Suspects in Extortion and Arson Ring
Tel Aviv police arrested three more suspects linked to an extortion, arson, and assault ring that used Telegram to trap victims and extort money.
Police in Tel Aviv have arrested three additional suspects in connection with a major extortion, arson, and aggravated assault ring operating across the region. Investigators report that the suspects lured victims via the Telegram app by arranging meetings with individuals falsely claimed to be minors.
Upon arrival at designated apartments, the victims faced severe physical assaults and were subjected to extortion demands reaching hundreds of thousands of shekels. The investigation also links the syndicate to a string of arson attacks, including targeted property fires in central Tel Aviv and the lobby of an apartment building in Holon, stemming from a violent underworld dispute involving a 41-year-old Tel Aviv resident.
The latest arrests follow a series of earlier police raids that led to the capture of suspects from Hadera and Karmiel, as well as a 24-year-old Ashdod resident suspected of orchestrating the operations. A Tel Aviv resident was previously detained on October 28, 2026, and the three newly apprehended suspects in their 30s are currently undergoing interrogation.
Authorities confirmed that the initial four suspects have already appeared in court to have their detentions extended as the comprehensive criminal investigation continues.
