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One person died and five others were injured during an overnight police chase in southern Israel after their getaway car overturned, the Israel Police said on Tuesday morning. Authorities confirmed that all six individuals involved were Bedouins between the ages of 17 and 57.
According to police, the group attempted to steal a safe from a gas station in Dimona late Monday night. The attempted theft came shortly after the same group allegedly robbed another gas station on Highway 90 in the Arava region.
Police officers were dispatched to the Dimona gas station following reports of the attempted robbery. Upon their arrival, the suspects fled in a vehicle fitted with forged license plates, triggering a pursuit that lasted several hundred meters.
During the chase, the driver reportedly lost control of the car, colliding with a street lamp before the vehicle flipped over. The crash killed a 44-year-old passenger, whose identity has not yet been released.
One of the five injured suspects tried to escape the scene on foot immediately after the crash. Officers quickly apprehended him while paramedics treated the remaining occupants.
All five surviving suspects were arrested and transported to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba for medical treatment. Police said the extent of their injuries varied, but none were reported to be in critical condition.
Authorities continue to investigate the sequence of events leading to the attempted robberies and the fatal crash. Police are also examining whether the suspects may be connected to additional incidents in the region.
The Israel Police noted that the use of forged plates and the quick succession of attempted crimes indicated a level of planning. However, investigators said it remains unclear whether the group acted alone or had accomplices.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about criminal activity in remote areas of southern Israel. Local officials have repeatedly called for increased policing and upgraded security measures at isolated gas stations.
The Israel Police stated that findings will be forwarded to prosecutors once the investigation is complete. Further updates are expected as officers interview the surviving suspects and review surveillance footage from both robbery scenes.