UAE says suspects arrested in killing of Israeli rabbi are from Uzbekistan

The Mossad and authorities in the UAE opened the investigation based on information that Kogan’s murder might be related to “a terrorist incident.”

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF NOVEMBER 25, 2024 11:47 Updated: NOVEMBER 25, 2024 12:07

Zvi Kogan (photo credit: Lazar Berman)

The suspects arrested in the alleged killing of Rabbi Zvi Kogan were from Uzbekistan, the UAE’s interior ministry stated on Monday.

The Chabad emissary was reported missing by his family on Thursday, and he was later found killed. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denounced Kogan's death as a “heinous antisemitic terrorist act.”

“The murder of the late Zvi Kogan is a criminal antisemitic terrorist attack,” the PMO said.  “The State of Israel will act by all means and bring the criminals responsible for his death to justice.”

Shortly after Kogan’s body was recovered, the UAE arrested three suspects believed to be the main perpetrators behind the kidnapping and murder.

'Terrorist incident'

The Mossad and authorities in the UAE opened the investigation based on information that Kogan’s murder might be related to “a terrorist incident.”

A United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag waves alongside an Israeli flag (credit: REUTERS/CHRISTOPHER PIKE)

“The one enemy [Israel has] today is terrorism, and Iran that supports the terrorism,” said Kara, a Druze who works to promote economic relations between Israel and the Arab world. “The indication that we have now is this is the direction of the investigation.”

Kogan’s body would be sent to Israel for burial after the UAE finished investigating, Kara said.

Israeli officials had suspected Iran’s involvement in the murder of Rabbi Kogan and are now concerned about whether Tehran intends to deploy similar methods in other countries, including Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Georgia, and parts of Europe.