4 youths from Tuba Zanghariya arrested for rioting

"Many shots fired in air by rioters during night of disturbances in Beduin village," police say following suspected "price tag" attack on mosque.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
price tag 311 (photo credit: Tovah Lazaroff)
price tag 311
(photo credit: Tovah Lazaroff)
Four youths from the Beduin Galilee village of Tuba Zanghariya were arrested during police raids on their homes Tuesday, following major overnight disturbances sparked by the torching of a mosque on Sunday by vandals who left behind far-right graffiti.
A police source told The Jerusalem Post that “many shots were fired in the air” by armed rioters during the unrest.
RELATED:Analysis: September and the settler factorPalestinians report further 'price tag' attack in W. Bank
Dozens of youths set fire to the village’s regional council building, heavily damaging it. A medical building and a community center were also torched.
The rioters pelted police with rocks and blocked the main entrance to the village.
Police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the youths, and simultaneously launched an investigation to track down the identities of suspects.
On Tuesday afternoon, large numbers of police raided four addresses and arrested suspected rioters.
The suspects are aged 19 to 28, and are due to appear before a Safed Magistrate’s Court for a remand hearing on Wednesday.
The police’s northern district chief, Cmdr. Roni Atiya, remained in the village throughout Tuesday. He said a policy of zero tolerance would be applied to any who disturbed the peace, while adding that dialogue with village notables would continue in an effort to restore calm.
“Further arrests are expected in the coming days of all those who disrupted the peace and attacked police and property, threw stones, or fired shots,” a police spokesman said.
The police investigation into the attack on the mosque continues.