Israeli police confirmed they have arrested eight persons who are believed to be part of a neo-Nazi gang responsible for numerous attacks on minorities and foreign citizens in Israel.

The eight are all Israeli citizens from the former Soviet Union and were detained one month ago. The news appeared Saturday night when security officials reportedly finalized the investigation began last year.

None of the suspects admitted of embracing the neo-Nazi ideology, but policemen ransacked their homes in the central city of Petah Tikva and found numerous materials which indicate the contrary.  

The persons aged between 16 and 21 are accused of assaulting religious Jews, gay people and foreign nationals working in the city located north-east of Tel Aviv.

The eight suspects even filmed their reprehensible actions and now the videos will be used as evidence against them by prosecutors. The police released a video showing them doing Nazi salutes and kicking a person lying on the ground, with music playing in the background.

The inquiry began in 2006 after several synagogues in Petah Tikva were desecrated with graffiti of swastikas and other Nazi symbols. Following this trail of anti-Semitic symbols and other incidents, investigators ended up at two members of the gang in June this year.

The two men denied any involvement in the reported incidents, but police forces found journals, web sites on their computers, movies and other materials, all having explicit neo-Nazi content.

“It is difficult to believe that Nazi ideology sympathizers can exist in Israel, but it is a fact,” Police chief Superintendent Revital Almog told Israeli media representatives.

The same media reported that the suspects are expected to face trial in a short period after being indicted.