Masked Arab teen arrested in A-Tur for attacking police with arsenal of firecrackers

Rubber masks and 100 rounds of firecrackers seized during arrest.

Masks and firecrackers seized after Arab teen attacked police with firecrackers in east Jerusalem Saturday night. (photo credit: JERUSALEM POLICE)
Masks and firecrackers seized after Arab teen attacked police with firecrackers in east Jerusalem Saturday night.
(photo credit: JERUSALEM POLICE)
A masked 17-year-old Arab man was found with an arsenal of fireworks Saturday night in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of A-Tur after being arrested for firing a round of the explosives at police officers patrolling the area, police said.
According to Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, the unidentified suspect donned a white, fitted rubber mask when he targeted officers with a single round at around 6 p.m.
“After the first round was fired, officers quickly placed him under arrest and found dozens more explosives nearby,” said Rosenfeld of the 100 firecrackers.
None of the officers were wounded, he said.
“We are investigating how he got the firecrackers and masks, and police continue to patrol the area to prevent any further attacks,” Rosenfeld said.
During the summer, A-Tur was among several flashpoint Arab neighborhoods known for rioting, with near nightly attacks.
The chronic violence there and other east Jerusalem communities has since largely been contained by the emergency deployment of 1,000 extra Border Police officers to patrol the troubled areas.