16 alleged rioters arrested in Tuba Zanghariya overnight

Police say more arrests to come; "Many shots fired in air by rioters during night of disturbances in Beduin village," following attack on mosque.

By JPOST.COM STAFF YAAKOV LAPPIN
Burned tires in Tuba Zanghariya 311 (photo credit: Ben Hartman)
Burned tires in Tuba Zanghariya 311
(photo credit: Ben Hartman)
Sixteen additional youngsters from the Beduin Galilee village of Tuba Zanghariya were arrested during police raids overnight Tuesday, following major disturbances the day before sparked by the torching of a mosque on Sunday by vandals who left behind far-right graffiti.
The suspects, all in their twenties, were arrested for allegedly firing guns into the air and causing damage in the city overnight Monday.
RELATED:Analysis: September and the settler factorPalestinians report further 'price tag' attack in W. BankPolice said that officers will continuing making arrests in the coming days. The suspects were expected to be brought to the Safed Magistrate's Court for remand extension hearings.
Four youths were also arrested the night before in connection with the rioting.
A police source told The Jerusalem Post that “many shots were fired in the air” by armed rioters during the unrest.
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.