A MAN wanted over a grenade attack on a police station in Israel has been found in Byron Bay, and will face extradition proceedings in a Sydney court next month. Australian Federal Police captured Hezl Bohadana, 23, in the once-hippie community and now high-priced holiday retreat in northern NSW after a surveillance operation prompted by a tip-off from Interpol.
| Excellent! Time to oil up the ululator. |
Israel had notified Australia about Mr Bohadana, wanted over the attack on the police station four years ago, on February 17. It is unclear how long Bohadana, an Israeli, had been living in Byron Bay or how he entered Australia.
| Check your logs for the Pakistani passports. |
He is wanted in Israel on charges including the attempted murder of Israeli police, illegal use of explosives and conspiracy to commit serious crimes. "Officers from Brisbane had identified a house he was in ... waited until he went into Byron Bay the next day and arrested him under provisions of a warrant," AFP spokesman Mick Spinks said. Mr Bohadana appeared in a closed sitting of the Lismore Local Court and was then transferred to Sydney, where he was remanded in custody to appear in court on April 14 while a formal request is made from Israeli authorities for his extradition. It is understood Mr Bohadana is not linked to any terrorist group.
Members of Byron Bay's Jewish community claimed Mr Bohadana may have been seeking refuge among local pro-Palestine supporters. Julie Nathan, co-chair of the Rainbow Kehilah, which represents the northern rivers Jewish community, said the Byron Bay area was known to be fairly sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
| And they have one less sympathezier today. |
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