Police Arrest Dozens of Arab Criminals, Terror Suspects in Yerushalayim

Police in Yerushalayim over the past two days have arrested 31 suspects wanted for terror and criminal activities – with several caught red-handed throwing rocks at the light rail in northern Yerushalayim. Besides stone throwing, suspects were arrested for setting off fireworks and throwing them at security officers, and for various crimes, including operating an illegal gas station. A number of the detainees already had records and were known to police.

Among the fireworks-throwers was a group that was caught “celebrating” the release of a terror suspect from an Israeli prison by marching down the street and setting off fireworks, then throwing them at passerby and police, when they arrived. The operation was part of a wider-ranging crackdown on crime in Arab neighborhoods of Yerushalayim, which has so far netted dozens of security prisoners, tax cheats and criminals, police said.

Overnight Wednesday, security officials said they arrested six wanted security suspects in other areas in Yehudah and Shomron. The suspects were wanted for participating in rioting and throwing stones and firebombs that endangered Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Several of the suspects were also charged with belonging to Hamas. All were being questioned on their activities by security forces.