3 hurt in Jerusalem riots

Ultra-Orthodox protesters burn garbage, stone police to protest transfer of stabbing victim Shmuel Matt to forensic institute at Abu Kabir
Efrat Weiss

Three police officers were wounded as dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters rioted Thursday around Jerusalem to protest plans to allow the Israel Forensic Institute at Abu Kabir to conduct an autopsy on the body of 21-year-old stabbing victim Shmuel Matt.

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Protesters burned tires and threw stones at police in the Meah Shearim section of Jerusalem. Police used force to disperse the rioters.

Later, more protesters gathered at the entrance to Hadassah University Hospital at Ein Kerem in the capital, as hospital officials conducted routine checks on the body.

Rioters set a private ambulance on fire near the hospital, thinking the vehicle was meant to transport Matt's body to Abu Kabir.

The hospital is expected to transfer the body to Abu Kabir on Thursday.

Burning garbage, calls for revenge

Afterwards, yet another wave of protesters blocked several main Jerusalem thoroughfares, burning garbage dumpsters and stoning police officers dispatched to maintain order.

No injuries were reported, but one police car was lightly damaged.

Graffiti calling for revenge was also found on several Jerusalem walls.

Shmuel Matt sustained critical injuries and later died from his wounds after being attacked by a knife-wielding Palestinian in Jerusalem's Old City Wednesday evening. Another ultra-Orthodox youngster sustained wounds in the attack.