Jerusalem district prosecutors have formally issued an indictment Monday against Yishai Schlissel, the haredi extremist who stabbed to death one person and injured several others in an attack on the Jerusalem gay pride parade last month.
The 39-year-old is being charged with premeditated murder, six counts of attempted murder and aggravated bodily harm. The prosecution has requested Schlissel be detained until the end of proceedings.
Schlissel stabbed six people at the parade, one of whom - 16-year-old Shira Banki - eventually died of her wounds.
Astonishingly, he carried out the attack just weeks after being released from prison over a previous, identical attack on the Jerusalem gay parade in 2005. Schlissel served 10 years in prison for that attack, in which no one was killed but several people were injured. He had expressed no regret for that crime, and even gave an interview to haredi radio shortly after his release calling on people to stop the upcoming gay parade.
However, while police were warned he could pose a threat Schlissel somehow managed to evade detection, approaching the parade in July before unsheathing a large knife and stabbing several participants, before being subdued and arrested.
Schlissel was deemed fit to stand trial, despite having suffered an apparent psychotic episode during his previous prison sentence. He has repeatedly refused an attorney, saying he does not recognize the state's authority.