The Haifa Magistrate’s Court on Sunday ignored a police request and ordered the release of five 18-year-old youths to six days house arrest. They were arrested in connection with a brawl, which led police to one of their homes where they found seforim, holy books that were torn up, desecrated and violated. Police also found a swastika in the home.

The five are members of a satanic cult and they were taken into custody on Shabbos.

Despite the police request to extend their remand, the court opted to exercise its authority and release them from custody.

Haifa Police Chief Dudu Ben-Atiya states that at present, police have not tied them to recent incidents in the Hadar area of the city but the investigation continues, which may provide a link.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)