Yesterday (Sunday), authorities in the United Arab Emirates said they had arrested three people suspected of being responsible for the assassination of Rav Tsvi Kogan, the Chabad emissary to Abu Dhabi.
According to the elements of the investigation, these three people were not sent directly by Iran to kidnap and assassinate Rav Kogan, z'l. They would have carried out this mission on behalf of Islamic Jihad or Hamas or another terrorist organization.
Rav Kogan, z'l, was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by a group of Uzbek mercenaries, some of whom fled to Türkiye immediately after the execution of their crime last Thursday.
These mercenaries belong to an Uzbek Shiite militia. They followed their victim and learned everything about his daily life. Kogan, z'l, owned a kosher convenience store in Dubai. It was there that they kidnapped him before taking him in his own car to Al Ain, an hour and a half drive from Dubai. Signs of a struggle were noted in the car and blood was found. After assassinating him, the terrorists dumped his body. Some members of the group, apparently the accomplices, fled to Turkey, the assassins remained on Emirati soil and were therefore arrested.
An Israeli official indicated that Israel does not know the identities of those arrested. He stressed that it was indeed an anti-Semitic crime against one of the most important figures in the country's Jewish community. Israel believes the terrorists spotted Kogan, z'l, in his hidden convenience store before hatching their evil plan against him.
The remains of Rav Tzvi Kogan, z'l, are to be repatriated to Israel today (Monday) and he will be buried tomorrow. Many people are expected for his funeral.
