Five suspects arrested in rioting on Temple Mount
Police faced off with rioters who have been storing rocks at nearby Al-Aqsa Mosque, no one was injured; the rioters are protesting the police’s decision to allow non-Muslim visitors to the Temple Mount during Ramadan.
Five suspects—four adults and one minor—were arrested on Monday after rioting on the Temple Mount, with Muslim worshippers throwing rocks, stones and firecrackers at police officers. No one was hurt. The police proceeded to disperse the protest after taking control of the situation.
Surveillance footage shows that the rioters have been holed up within the nearby Al-Aqsa Mosque prior to the rioting, stocking up on rocks and putting up blockades, which according to the police were all intended “to confront the police and other forces, prevent them from closing the doors and disrupt regular visitations to the Temple Mount.”
Monday marked the second day of confrontations at the Temple Mount, after several officers and one civilian were lightly wounded on Sunday.
The rioting is over the fact that contrary to past years, the Jerusalem Police has allowed non-Muslims to visit the Temple Mount during the last few days, during the holy month of Ramadan.
The attacks continued in several spurts throughout the day Monday. The police stated that “officers are on site and have received reinforcement. They are responding to the rioters with assertive restraint and have acted to disperse them.”
The police have been working to protect the rights of hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshippers wishing to pray on the Temple Mount througout the month of Ramadan, which began three weeks ago.
The police stressed that any attempt to disrupt the peace and status quo in Jerusalem will be dealt with assertively and forcefully, in order to allow the free and safe practice of different religions.
The police said it maintains an open line of communication with the local Muslim leadership and the waqf on the Temple in an effort to prevent public disturbances and to keep the peace at the Temple Mount. Jerusalem Police further stated that “It will use all of its available resources to bring about the arrests of those rioting and to prosecute them to the full extent of the law.”
