Police arrest 10 Arab youths for throwing rocks from rooftop in Old City

Heightened security remains in effect throughout capital, with emphasis on the Western Wall for remainder of Succot and Birkat Kohanim ceremony.

A masked Palestinian teenager throws a stone at Israeli soldiers (photo credit: REUTERS)
A masked Palestinian teenager throws a stone at Israeli soldiers
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Border Police arrested 10 Arab teenagers, some of whom were masked, in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City on Monday for hurling rocks from a school rooftop at Jewish passersby walking to and from the Western Wall during Succot.
According to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, the suspects, all between the ages of 15-17, were quickly surrounded by officers patrolling the area and placed under arrest.
None of the intended victims was wounded, he said.
“During the holiday in the Old City on Monday afternoon, a group of 10 Arab suspects, some wearing masks, threw stones from a school rooftop at people walking in and around the Old City, near the Western Wall,” he said.
“Police units responded immediately, and carefully and cautiously surrounded the rooftop, before arresting them.”
Rosenfeld added that other instances of rock-throwing from the roof were reported earlier in the day.
Heightened security will remain in effect throughout the capital over the next several days, with an emphasis on the Old City, where thousands are expected to participate in the traditional Birkat Hakohanim (Priestly Blessing) ceremony and annual Jerusalem March, attended by thousands of Christian pilgrims for the Feast of Tabernacles.