Akko following riots
Photo: AFP
3 Akko residents arrested on suspicion of damaging cars
Police continue to search for suspects involved in clashes between Jews, Arabs in northern city. Seventy-eight inhabitants detained since riots' onset on Yom Kippur, four indictments filed
Three Jewish Akko residents were arrested Friday morning on suspicion of vandalizing a number of vehicles during the clashes which broke out
between Jews and Arabs in the northern city on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.
Although calm was restored in the city six days ago, the police continue to search for inciters and residents involved in the damaging of property.
The Akko Magistrates' Court decided to place one of the suspects under house arrest and to extend the remand of the other two.
Opinion
Alma Zohar
Akko riots feature two sides that in fact have no idea what they want
Seventy-eight people have been arrested since the onset of the riots, half of them Jews and half Arabs. Four indictments have been filed, and the police have stressed that additional suspects will be indicted for causing damage, rioting, setting vehicles on fire and vandalizing buildings.
About 1,000 police officers have been dispatched to Akko in recent days, some of them as part of special forces tasked with securing the conflict centers and restoring the residents' feeling of security.
Chief Superintendent Avi Edri, commander of the local police station, told Ynet, "We are preparing to continue to guarantee the residents' safety during the holiday.
"In a meeting attended by District Commander Shimon Koren, district and local officers and Akko Mayor Shimon Lankry, it was decided to continue the dialogue with the Jewish and Arab religious and political representatives in order to guarantee that Simchat Torah and the days after the holiday go by quietly without the riots being resumed."
According to Koren, "The police have boosted their forces in a sufficient manner, and simultaneously, the special investigation team continues to search for all those involved in the Yom Kippur riots."
In a meeting with police representatives, Mayor Lankry promised that the events, which he views as the crossing of a red line by extremists from both sides, will not be renewed. He clarified that in the coming days he will be guided by strengthening the coexistence, which has set an example to other cities.
Tawfik Jamal, the Arab driver who entered a mixed neighborhood on Yom Kippur and sparked the wave of violence, was placed under house arrest Wednesday. His driving license was revoked for a month.
