Two teenagers charged with arson attack on Tel Aviv restaurant

Two 18-year-old men from Ramat Hasharon have been charged with setting fire to Japonica, a restaurant in the Tel Aviv suburb of Givatayim, approximately one month ago. The indictment alleges that their actions “placed the entire public and restaurant staff members in genuine danger to their lives.”

According to court documents, the accused pair were equipped with 4.5 litres of flammable liquid and wore camouflage clothing at the time of the alleged incident. The detailed evidence presented in the indictment suggests this was a deliberate and premeditated attack rather than a spontaneous act.

The charges represent serious criminal conduct, with prosecutors arguing that the fire-setting endangered multiple lives. Restaurant fires pose particular risks due to the presence of staff, customers, and the rapid spread of flames in confined spaces with kitchens and storage areas containing additional combustible materials.

The case has drawn attention to incidents of arson targeting businesses in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. The two defendants remain in custody pending further court proceedings, with the indictment likely to trigger a series of hearings to determine bail conditions and set a trial date.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.