Axe attack in Jerusalem: How the suspect tried to conceal his identity

It was later revealed that there was a prior relationship between the two, and the attack was carried out out of revenge. A prosecution statement has been filed, and an indictment is expected in the coming days.

Over the past month, an investigation was underway in the David district against a resident of central Israel who arrived armed with an axe at an apartment in the Old City of Jerusalem. He charged towards a woman and attacked her in the head with the axe he was carrying. After the attack, the suspect fled on foot into the narrow alleys of the Old City, and at one point, he took a taxi and escaped the area. As a result of the attack, the woman was moderately injured and was evacuated for further medical treatment at the hospital.

Jerusalem police forces and Border Police soldiers arrived at the scene and conducted extensive searches for the fleeing suspect. Criminal investigation officers began collecting evidence at the scene to trace the suspect's identity. After uncovering the suspect's identity, and with the help of rapid and diverse investigative actions in cooperation with the Shin Bet (Israel's internal security service), the David district police were able to track his escape route. He was arrested by officers from the Tiberias police station while hiding in a yeshiva in northern Israel and even attempted to change his appearance by shaving his beard. The suspect, a man in his 20s from central Israel, was arrested by the police and transferred for questioning in the David district.

The investigation revealed that the suspect had a prior relationship with the victim. He had studied at a yeshiva managed by the victim’s husband but was expelled due to behavior that did not meet the yeshiva's requirements. As an act of revenge, the suspect entered the victim's home and attacked her, causing the serious injury. His detention has been extended periodically by the court, and after the investigation was concluded and sufficient evidence was gathered, a prosecution statement was filed over the weekend announcing the intention to file an indictment against him in the coming days by the Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office. Consequently, his detention has been extended until March 11, 2025.

Deputy Superintendent Asaf Harel, head of investigations and intelligence in the David district, said: "The fact that the suspect attacked a woman without any provocation, and in her home in front of her children, speaks volumes about the danger he poses, as well as the ease and brutality with which he attacked the victim. The investigative efforts led to the swift resolution of the case, the capture of the suspect, and his detention behind bars until the legal proceedings are completed. The police will continue to fight with determination and all available tools against severe violence in any form and against criminals who endanger public safety and security."