Drive-by shooting at Hadarim prison

Shots were fired at the Hadarim prison in central Israel from a passing car early Wednesday morning, in what was suspected to be a “warning” from a crime organization.

The perpetrator fled the scene; no injuries or damage were reported.

Machine gun rounds were found at the scene. Israel Police and Israel Prison Service (IPS) intelligence officials were called to and launched an investigation into the incident.

The shooting is the latest in a series of violent and criminal incidents directed at the prison service in recent months in a bid to intimidate prison officials, over the imprisonment of senior members of crime organizations.

The Jerusalem Post’s Hebrew sister publication Maariv reported that the IPS and police investigators said that a large crime organization from the northern part of the Hasharon area, were behind the attack. Their members have been in prison for long periods of time. The investigation also revealed that the organization was behind other recent incidents.

The IPS Spokesperson’s Unit said: “It seems that very violent criminal organizations which have no boundaries do not want us to handle [their cases] in prison ...They are sending us the message: “[We will] cause havoc inside prison, and [will] send emissaries to threaten [you].” It’s a type of call for war against us.”