Police arrested 21 worshippers on the suspicion of planning to sacrifice a Passover offering in the Jerusalem area, the police reported on Monday.
The legal center of the Honenu organization was notified of eight arrests since Monday morning on suspicion of planning to sacrifice a Passover offering.
Two brothers, minors aged 17 and 15, were arrested on Monday in the Givat Mordechai area by Jerusalem Central Unit on suspicion of planning to offer a Passover sacrifice. The two were arrested with goats and taken to the Central Unit offices for questioning.
Two more suspects, also aged 17, were arrested with goats in the Safra Square area of the city. The other six suspects were arrested in various locations throughout the city of Jerusalem, some of them arrested with goats.
All eight of Hanenu affiliated suspects will be represented by attorneys Nati Rom and Moshe Polsky from the organization.
Goat found in a stroller
The police further announced that on Monday, detectives from the Central Unit in the Jerusalem District detained 13 additional suspects aged 13-21 on suspicion of intending to disrupt public order.
During police activities throughout the city, officers identified several suspects carrying a goat, or hiding a goat in various ways, including inside shopping bags and strollers. The suspects were taken for further questioning by the Central Unit in the Jerusalem District, while the animals were transferred for veterinary care.
"The Israel Police operates in Jerusalem with all security forces, openly and covertly, against anyone attempting to disrupt order and act contrary to the law and prevailing customs in the holy places of Jerusalem," the police said in the announcement.
In their announcement, the police urged the public, "Not to provide a platform or expression to extremist fringe elements attempting or inciting to disrupt order and law. The current practice on the Temple Mount and other holy sites in Jerusalem is preserved and will continue to be preserved at all times, and extremists and offenders of any kind will not be allowed to violate it."
This is a developing story