'It felt like my own personal October the 7th': Gang jailed for kidnapping Jewish-Israeli music producer

15 March 2025, 02:04 | Updated: 15 March 2025, 04:06

A Jewish-Israeli music producer said he felt like he experienced his own "personal October 7" when he was kidnapped by a gang in West Wales and held captive.

Faiz Shah, 23, from Leeds, Mohammad Comrie, 23, from Bradford, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20, from Wallington, were jailed at Swansea Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard they had lured Itay Kashti to a remote property in the Brynteg area of Llanybydder on 26 August, posing as representatives from a reputable music production company and inviting him to a music workshop.

During sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards said the planning was "significant and highly sophisticated", targeting an "entirely innocent, hard-working music producer" based on the gang's understanding of his wealth and his Jewish heritage.

The group - who all pleaded guilty to kidnap - each received a sentence of eight years and one month.

The court heard they meticulously plotted the attack on a Telegram group chat. They used false identities to rent out a cottage and organised a taxi to transport Mr Kashti to Wales from his London home.

When the taxi arrived, Mr Kashti was immediately attacked by the three masked men, suffering bruising and extensive facial injuries.

Messages recovered from the defendants show they planned to incapacitate the victim with ketamine, while an imitation pistol was found at the scene.

Mr Kashti was able to slip the chains from the radiator pipe and flee the property, later alerting the police. Officers found the three defendants hiding in nearby fields.

Craig Jones, for the prosecution, said messages exchanged between the defendants referred to Mr Kashti having been on "pro-Israeli marches". They also made allegations about "Palestinian land" and said they had "no remorse" for what they were going to do.

In a statement, Mr Kashti told the court: "As an Israeli, this incident felt like my own personal October the 7th.

"I was kicked to the head several times, handcuffed to a radiator and forced to lie down on the floor. I was threatened and told if I were to try and escape, I'd be killed.

"The awful attack of 7th of October was flashing through my mind as I lay restrained on the floor in handcuffs."

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Planning for the kidnap included the defendants using stolen identities and financial documents, multiple mobile phones, the development of escape routes and processes to launder any money extorted from the victim.

The judge told them: "It seems to me that you justified your actions against the victim based on his background, as if he was less worthy of your respect and compassion. That is utterly abhorrent.

"I have no doubt that the victim was targeted due to his Jewish heritage."

Inspector Gareth Jones, of Dyfed-Powys Police, described the "harrowing" impact of the crime on the victim and his family.

"This sentence today reflects the severity of this offence and the ordeal the victim suffered - and we hope it gives the victim a sense of justice," he said.

(c) Sky News 2025: 'It felt like my own personal October the 7th': Gang jailed for kidnapping Jewish-Israeli music producer