Ultra-Orthodox Jews attack Israeli police, trigger riot over coronavirus lockdown
- At least six people were arrested in Bnei Brak after a police vehicle was pelted with stones
- Tensions have run high between police and the ultra-Orthodox community throughout the pandemic as many have defied curbs to hold religious meetings
Ultra-Orthodox Jews attacked an unmarked Israeli police vehicle overnight, pelting it with stones and smashing the windows while officers were inside, and igniting a riot in which at least six people were arrested, police said on Friday.
Police seeking to break up weddings, funerals and other gatherings have often faced violent crowds.
The latest violence began when the crowd in Bnei Brak pelted the police vehicle with stones, shattering its windows and puncturing the tyres. The officers inside called for backup, and when the reinforcements arrived the crowd blocked roads and burned tyres.
“Police are continuing to disperse a violent and wild riot in Bnei Brak, during which stones were thrown at police officers and tyres set on fire in the centre of the city’s main thoroughfares,” the police said in a statement early Friday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence and vowed to act with a “heavy hand” against anyone violating the law or attacking police.