Jerusalem Police Arrest 11 After Ultra-Orthodox Mob Attacks Arab Man

Jerusalem police arrested 11 individuals early Tuesday morning on suspicion of public order disturbances in the area of Haim Bar Lev Street and Damascus Gate. The unrest erupted after a gathering of ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, Jews concluded, escalating into violence that included a severe assault on an Arab man, the theft of a municipal vehicle, and an injury to a policewoman.

Social media videos circulated showing Haredi youths pursuing and assaulting an elderly Arab man, kicking and verbally abusing him after he fell to the ground. The victim managed to escape and was taken for medical treatment, with his condition described as mild by Israeli media. The disturbances reportedly began around 3 a.m., with hundreds of Haredi individuals blocking streets and the light rail line, throwing stones and objects at security forces and civilians, causing damage to Jerusalem municipality vehicles. A municipal car was stolen during the chaos but later abandoned.

Police and Border Police forces dispersed the rioters using crowd control measures. A Border Police officer sustained a mild head injury from a thrown bottle and received medical attention. Another person, found by police in mild condition, appeared to have been assaulted by the rioters. The group later moved to the Damascus Gate area, where they clashed with residents before police intervened again. The 11 arrested suspects face charges including public order offenses, vandalism, and violence.