"He Threatened Our Whole Family": Father Exposes Months of Terror Preceding Highway Bombing
A thirty-five-year-old mother and former law enforcement officer was killed when a half-kilogram bomb detonated inside her vehicle on the Ayalon Highway. Police investigators have extended the custody of her estranged husband for twelve days as they probe a history of severe domestic threats.
The Petah Tikva Magistrates Court has approved a twelve day extension for the primary suspect detained in connection with the fatal car bombing of thirty-five-year-old Liya Malka Cohen. Police investigators requested the prolonged detention to pursue multiple forensic leads, while the suspect continues to deny all allegations, claiming he was at his residence at the exact moment of the explosion. The victim, who previously served as a mandatory term police officer, is scheduled to be laid to rest in Rishon LeZion.
The father of the victim, Yakov, shared details regarding the months of escalating friction and severe verbal threats that preceded the highway explosion. He explained that the family never imagined the domestic dispute would culminate in such a brutal, calculated murder. Yakov stated that the suspect had routinely threatened both the victim and other family members over an extended period.
According to the father's account, he personally received continuous threatening phone calls from the suspect spanning several hours during a single evening. The suspect allegedly stated that he would take Yakov's life, prompting the family to seek formal legal interventions. While a restraining order was eventually issued by authorities, the suspect was not kept in custody, allowing the volatile situation to persist.
The severe marital breakdown reportedly began when the victim discovered evidence of infidelity and substance abuse, prompting her to immediately initiate separation proceedings and terminate the relationship. Yakov noted that the threats intensified significantly after March 26, with the suspect allegedly sending text messages vowing to harm their two-year-old daughter. Despite these clear warnings, the victim remained confident that her estranged husband would not actually execute his threats.
The tragedy unfolded during a routine morning commute when the victim's brother received an automated alert from the Ituran vehicle tracking service, indicating a sudden and total electrical disconnect in the car. The family immediately grew anxious and began calling her workplace and friends in an attempt to locate her position. Shorty thereafter, her supervisor called back to ask if the uncrewed vehicle could be related to the breaking news reports of a vehicle explosion on the Ayalon Highway.
The specialized investigation revealed that a bomb weighing approximately half a kilogram had been covertly attached to the vehicle and detonated remotely at 9:18 AM while the car was moving along Route 20 near Holon. Detectives suspect that the victim was the explicit target of a premeditated hit. Defense attorneys representing the accused husband emphasized that their client maintains his innocence, expressing confidence that the ongoing police investigation will ultimately result in his full release.