Fire suspects' father: They were framed
Usfiya brothers arrive in court for hearing on extension of their remand; father says they were 'snatched from home as if they were terrorists'
The two brothers from Usfiya who are suspected of being responsible for the outbreak of the deadly fire in the Carmel region arrived at the Haifa Magistrates' Court Sunday morning for a hearing on the extension of their remand.
"We won’t allow two good kids to be framed," the teenagers' father said ahead of the hearing.
The brothers, aged 14 and 16, were arrested Saturday on suspicion of negligence which caused the wildfire that has claimed the lives of 41 people. Their remand was extended until December 8.
Their father accused police of "snatching" the brothers "as if they were terrorists and not two youngsters who are about to enlist in the army.
"They had nothing to do with the fire; they didn't even know it erupted. One of them was sleeping and the other was in school," the father claimed.
Police suspect the brothers did not put out a fire that sparked the huge blaze in the Carmel region.
"Our neighbors framed them," the father continued. "My kids do not smoke nargilas (water pipes) – this can be checked in a lab. I also served in the army and helped firefighters over the past few days."
The suspects' mother told Ynet Saturday evening that her sons were in school when the fire broke out at around 11 am Thursday. She criticized police for arresting the two.
"They have nothing to do with the fire and I'm very angry at the police for arresting my sons. Their behavior was violent," she claimed.
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