Border Police officer wounded in Issawiya riot, Palestinian shot in leg
Arab mob throws firebombs, large stones at officers patrolling east Jerusalem neighborhood.
By DANIEL K. EISENBUDStone-throwing Palestinians clash with Israeli police in Sur Baher, a village in the suburbs of east Jerusalem(photo credit: REUTERS)
A Border Police officer responding to a riot in east Jerusalem’s Palestinian Issawiya neighborhood is in light condition after being struck in the head by a large rock thrown from a rooftop there early Sunday evening.According to Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, shortly after 5 p.m. police units patrolling the flashpoint area were besieged by firebombs and large Jerusalem stones thrown by a mob of young Arab men.“Police units were carrying out operations in Issawiya and local Palestinians started rioting, throwing petrol bombs and Jerusalem stones weighing up to 20 kilos from rooftops at them,” said Rosenfeld shortly after the attack.An officer was struck in the head by one of the stones, treated at the scene, and transferred to an area hospital in light condition, he added.“Border Police responded by using non-lethal stun grenades to push back the rioters, and at one point one of the officers there shot a 19-year-old Arab man in the leg with a Ruger gun, which has a .22 caliber round, when he attempted to throw a petrol bomb at him,” Rosenfeld said.He emphasized that only one shot was fired from the low-caliber pistol, and that the suspect was treated at the scene before being arrested.The rioters were dispersed without any other injuries or arrests, he said.“Police operations continue in the neighborhood and throughout east Jerusalem,” Rosenfeld added.