Escaped Israeli mafia leader arrested in Morocco

Golan Avitan, 52 was arrested in a synagogue in Casablanca after his children landed in the North African country to visit him.

Avitan was arrested on suspicion of carrying out a "criminal attack" in Tel Aviv 15 years ago after an explosion targeting Zeev Rosenstein, the leader of an opposition criminal group. Three bystanders were killed in the attack. 

Israeli media described Avitan as an alleged "soldier" of a rival crime family, the Abarjils.

Avitan managed to escape through the back door of a dentist clinic in October 2018 after taking off his electronic tag bracelet which monitors his movement.

He later contacted his lawyer to confirm he had fled abroad before news of his presence in Morocco surfaced.

Shimon Cohen, who like Avitan is from Ashdod, and Shlomi Ben-Ziman and Shimon Amsalem from Bat Yam were also arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack.

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