File photo of an ambulance
Photo: Mati Elmaliach
A minor and an 18-year-old were charged Tuesday with perpetrating a racially motivated attack against an Arab youth in Jerusalem's
Old City last week along with four of their friends who remain at large.
The incident at the Jewish Quarter of the Old City began when an assailant whose identity remains unknown to police started to curse the Arab youth, and then grabbed the Arab by his shirt and pushed him.
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According to the indictment, six youths then gathered around the Arab, pushed him around and shouted "Get out of our neighborhood, Arab bastard." They chased after him, and one of them ripped off the necklace he wore around his neck and grabbed his glasses. The youths, including the defendants, threw him to the ground, kicked and punched him in the face and body as he tried to defend himself with his hands. They also took his mobile phone, headphones and cash.
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After the first round of attacks, the Jewish assailants fled from the scene and the Arab got on his feet and chased the youth who was later detained by police and pushed him against the wall. However then the other assailants returned, knocked the Arab off his feet and started kicking him as he was prone on the ground. One of them whipped him with a belt. The Arab youth numerous sustained injuries and was evacuated to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center for treatment.
The two friends were charged with racially motivated aggravated assault. Additionally the minor was also charged with assaulting a police officer during his arrest.
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