Kidnappers murdered UAE rabbi after botched abduction – report

Uzbeki kidnappers had planned to smuggle Rabbi Zvi Kogan across the border into Oman but murdered him after their abduction plan went awry, according to Wall Street Journal report.

By World Israel News Staff

The suspects responsible for the abduction and murder of a rabbi in the United Arab Emirates had planned to transfer him across the border to Oman, but killed him after their plans went awry, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday.

On the morning of November 21st, Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a dual Israeli-Moldovan citizen serving as aide to the chief rabbi of the United Arab Emirates and the proprietor of a kosher grocery shop in Abu Dhabi, was abducted and driven in his own car by his kidnappers towards the border with Oman.

Days later, his remains were found in his car en route to the border, with clear signs he had been murdered.

Relatives and friends who spoke with the Journal said Rabbi Kogan’s death was “a bloody end,” without offering details.

According to Sunday’s report, the three suspects linked to the killing had planned on smuggling the 28-year-old rabbi over the border – alive – to Oman, but were ultimately foiled.

It remains unclear what prevented the three Uzbeki nationals linked to the case from crossing the border with Rabbi Kogan, leading to his murder.

UAE security forces arrested the three suspects last week, just days after Rabbi Kogan was declared missing.

The UAE’s Ministry of the Interior identified the three suspects as Olembay Toyirovich, 28, Mahmoud Abd Rahim, 28, and Azizet Kamalovich, 33, and released a photograph of three in custody.

Some Israeli officials cited by Israel’s national broadcaster, Kan, have speculated that while the abduction and killing bear the hallmarks of a terrorist organization, the terror cell responsible may not be linked to Iran.