Haredi protesters disperse as Beit Shemesh boy examined externally.
By JPOST.COM STAFFHaredim angry in bet shemesh 311(photo credit: Alon Nuriel)
After an external examination, which Magen David Adom and protesting haredim agreed upon in place of an autopsy, a 10-year-old boy who passed away Thursday morning in Beit Shemesh was released for burial.Authorities confirmed the cause of death was natural, and was not caused by foul play.The haredi protesters dispersed after the boy was released for burial.An estimated 200 haredim, thought to be part of the Neturei Karta sect, tried to prevent police from taking the body to the hospital earlier on Thursday. The crowd tried to enter the home, and were blocked by police.RELATED:Haredim riot against attempted autopsySnatched corpse returned to JerusalemOne police officer, who attempted to defend himself with pepper spray, was lightly wounded, and additional forces were dispatched to the scene.Later Thursday, hundreds of haredim burned trash cans in the Mea She'arim neighborhood in Jerusalem, in support of the Beit Shemesh rioters. All major roads leading to the neighborhood were closed.This is not the first time in which haredim have violently opposed an autopsy. In February, haredim in Mea She'arim kidnapped the body of a 25-year-old woman in order to prevent an autopsy from being performed.The kidnappers agreed to return the body only after police promised not to tamper with it.
