1 dead, at least 3 in critical condition after funeral procession for rabbi
Young man trampled at Bnei Brak event attended by an estimated 100,000 mourners; police to investigate possible negligence.
It was estimated that nearly 100,000 people came to Bnei Brak to pay a final tribute to Rabbi Shmuel Halevi Wosner.
The police announced on Sunday that they would open an investigation into possible negligence. They were to collect witness testimony and examine whether permits for the procession were received properly. A police source said arrests were possible.
Some of the injured were hurt when the rabbi's coffin was brought out on Desler Street. Witnesses said the crowd surged towards it, trampling the victims. The MDA spokesman said a man aged around 40 and a 14-year-old boy were hospitalized with serious head injuries. Two others, aged 22 and 27, received CPR and were evacuated. MDA said they had treated a total of 65
An MDA medic said the dead man was found unconscious and without a pulse, having been injured in the chest and abdomen. He was declared dead that night.
"When we arrived at the yeshiva on Dresler Street, we saw injured people strewn in the crowd," said Ami Mashari, a senior medic in the MDA. "The path to them was very difficult. Once we worked out way through, we reached a boy of about 14 who was semi-conscious and suffering from a head injury. We gave him medical treatment and evacuated to a hospital."
The deceased was 102 and his 78-year-old son, Rabbi Chaim Wosner, was chosen as his successor.
Kobi Nahshoni contributed to this report.
