A detainee brought to a remand hearing tried to take her own life at the Mateh Yehuda police station on Tuesday, but a Border Police officer noticed something was wrong and stopped it in time. The Israel Police said the officer acted with quick thinking and vigilance, preventing what it described as a major tragedy.
According to police, the detainee is a woman with mental health issues who is hospitalized at an institution in the Jerusalem area. She was arrested on Monday on suspicion of violently attacking people at the location. This morning, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court extended her remand until Wednesday, and she was then returned to the police station.
The incident occurred when the woman was escorted to the bathroom by the officer. After she remained inside the stall for an unusually long time, the officer grew suspicious, forced her way in and found the detainee with her shirt wrapped around her neck in an apparent suicide attempt. The officer immediately removed the shirt and called emergency medical teams.
The woman was evacuated in light condition to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, where she is receiving medical and psychiatric treatment. Police said the case will be examined in depth and that both the detainee and the officer involved will receive appropriate support. They called the episode an unusual event that underscores the need for constant vigilance when handling detainees, especially those facing mental health difficulties.
