Bilal Abu Ghanem, a resident of Jerusalem’s Jabil Mukhaber neighborhood, has been convicted by the Jerusalem District Court of the October 2015 terror attack in the Armon HaNatziv area in which three innocent people were killed. He was convicted of the murders along with seven counts of attempted murder and aiding the enemy during wartime.

The sentencing was the result of a plea bargain as Ghanem refused to stand before the court or cooperate. The prosecution called for three consecutive life sentences plus an additional seventy years for the counts of attempted murder.

Abu Ghanem did admit to his actions to police. He carried out the attack with Baha Ilan, a 23-year-old resident of the same community. They boarded an Egged number 78 bus and began shooting and stabbing riders. Murdered in the attack were Dr. Richard Lakin, Alon Guverg and Chaviv Chaim HY”D.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)