Police stepped up security around mosques and Islamic symbols around the country to prevent further "price tag" incidents and disturbances, following the
vandalizing and arson of a mosque in the Galilee village of Tuba Zangria.
Police Insp.-Gen. Yochanan Danino ordered all police districts, as well as the police's Operations Branch, to go on alert in areas with Muslim communities.
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factorPalestinians report further 'price tag' attack in W.
BankThe Police's head of Operations, Cmdr. Nissim Mor, ordered his officers
to pool intelligence and map out areas where future 'price tag'
incidents could occur and to increase police patrols in areas with
Muslim communities.
The mosque was set alight overnight Sunday in an
apparent "price tag" attack, prompting residents to attempt a march on
nearby Rosh Pina that deteriorated into stone throwing and clashes with
security forces.
Residents of the village said that the words "Price Tag" and "Revenge"
were sprayed in the area of the mosque. The attack comes amid a recent
wave of similar attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Public Security Minster Yitzhak Ahronovitch and
the northern police district head Cmdr. Roni Atiya visited the
vandalized mosque in Tuba.
Aharnovitch was briefed about the incident and the investigation. The two were scheduled to meet village leaders.
Dialogue between police representatives and notables from the Muslim community were continuing, police said.
A group of some 300 people marched out of Tuba in the direction of Rosh
Pina with the intention of blocking major traffic arteries. During the
procession, marchers began throwing stones toward police forces and set
tires on fire.
Police forces prevented them from reaching the main junction using crowd dispersal means.
Police arrested a number of people suspected of setting fire to and vandalizing the mosque, Israel Radio reported. The suspects were found in possession of flamable materials, according to the report.
Police were unable to confirm the reports of the arrests.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that "in the early hours of the
morning a number of suspects entered the mosque in the village of Tuba
and caused severe damage to the mosque's carpet and inner walls. An
intensive police investigation has been launched to track down those
behind the incident."
Police opened an investigation into the incident and Cmdr. Attia was joined by police forces at the scene.
Last month, police announced the formation of a special task force to
track down and arrest far-right extremists who were behind price tag
incidents in the West Bank.