Last update - 00:00 12/11/2007
Holon fan confesses to throwing firecracker at game, wounding guard
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
A 20-year-old Hapoel Holon fan confessed Monday to throwing a firecracker during Sunday night's game against Hapoel Jerusalem, wounding a security guard.
Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extended Yossi Malakh's remand Monday by five days. The court also extended the remand of two of Malakh's friends, Nir Reuven and Itzik Daniel.
The three arrived at the game together, along with a minor, and smuggled the firecracker into the arena. Police sources said Monday they are not yet convinced that Itzik committed the act on his own, and are checking whether his two friends were involved in the plan.
Malakh and Reuven were arrested Sunday evening inside the arena, a short while after the incident. Daniel and the minor were arrested outside the arena a few hours later.
Also Monday, Hadassah Medical Center surgeons operated for more than nine hours to restore the hand of the wounded security guard.
Three fingers of the guard's hand were amputated in the incident, which took place in the Malha basketball arena in Jerusalem. The surgeons reattached the fingers, and were successful in restoring blood flow.
The blast of the firecracker was heard clearly on the live television broadcast of the game. Television pictures showed a white cloud rising from the spot.
The Jerusalem police are expected to investigate in the coming days how the culprit managed to smuggle the device past the arena's security, and why the security team wasn't able to locate the device and prevent the explosion.
Violence in sports has become an issue in Israel. A week ago, Israelis were scandalized when supporters of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team booed during a minute of silence honoring the anniversary of slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
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