In Jerusalem, police arrest 4 residents suspected of setting off fireworks at officers after attempted stabbing in Old City

Knives and assorted weaponry found by the IDF during a raid in the West Bank city of Hebron on May 8, 2017. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Knives and assorted weaponry found by the IDF during a raid in the West Bank city of Hebron on May 8, 2017. (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)

 

Israeli security forces arrested 17 Palestinian suspects in the West Bank and East Jerusalem on Sunday night and early Monday morning, officials said.

Fireworks were allegedly launched at police by rioters in East Jerusalem during a violent protest on May 7, 2017. (Israel Police)
Fireworks were allegedly launched at police by rioters in East Jerusalem during a violent protest on May 7, 2017. (Israel Police)

In Hebron, IDF soldiers also uncovered a cache of knives, knuckledusters and other assorted weaponry, the army said.

Outside the Old City of Jerusalem on Sunday night, residents clashed with police officers, following an attempted stabbing attack by a Palestinian girl earlier in the evening.

During violent protest, residents fired “hives” of fireworks — pyrotechnics laid out in a grid — at police officers, a police spokesperson said.

No officers were injured by the fireworks, the spokesperson said.

Using the city’s closed-circuit cameras, the Jerusalem Police located a group of four youths in a nearby building. They were arrested on suspicion that they had set off the fireworks.

Clothing and masks that were allegedly used by rioters in East Jerusalem to disguise themselves during a violent protest against police on May 7, 2017. (Israel Police)
Clothing and masks that were allegedly used by rioters in East Jerusalem to disguise themselves during a violent protest against police on May 7, 2017. (Israel Police)

In the building, the officers located and seized three “hives” of fireworks. The police also found masks and clothing, which they believe were used by the suspects to disguise themselves in a failed attempt to avoid identification, a spokesperson said.

“The suspects are minors, residents of the Old City and Shuafat refugee camp,” police said.

In the West Bank, the army arrested 13 Palestinian suspects during overnight activities. Eight of them were believed to have taken part in rock throwing or in violent protests, while the other five were believed to be members of the Hamas terrorist group, the IDF said in a statement.

Three of the suspected rock throwers were arrested in Faroun, outside Tulkarem. Two were picked up in Qalqilya, and the rest were arrested in the Palestinian village of Teqoa, which is next to a Jewish settlement of the same name.

The suspected Hamas members were arrested in Hebron and Faroun, the army said.

As reported by The Times of Israel