A multi-count criminal indictment was filed against Yishai Schlisel in the Jerusalem District Court on Monday morning, 9 Elul. Schlisel, 39, is being charged with premeditated murder, six counts of attempted murder, and aggravated assault.

Schlisel murdered 16-year-old Shira Banki A”H who was standing at the area of the Jerusalem toeiva parade a number of weeks ago. She was not even a member of the gay community, but was simply present in the area. Schlisel also wounded a number of participants in the parade before police restrained him.

About three weeks prior to the attack Schlisel was released from prison after serving a ten-year sentence for attempted murder. This was related to his first stabbing attack at a toeiva parade in the capital a decade earlier.

Following his release from prison Schlisel announced he planned to attack again, yet police and the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) failed to take the proper measures to prevent the attack. While his photo was distributed to police assigned to the parade, he managed to evade the large police presence and commit the fatal attack.

Following this latest attack Schlisel was sent for psychiatric evaluation as was the case a decade ago, and was once again diagnosed as being responsible for his actions and capable of standing trial.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)