Two Arab youths arrested in capital for threatening to stab Jewish man

“Police units quickly arrived at the scene and apprehended the two suspects while they were riding their bikes toward east Jerusalem.”

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
An Egged bus driving through Jerusalem (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
An Egged bus driving through Jerusalem
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Two Arab youths were arrested late Saturday night after threatening the life of a Jewish man at knifepoint near a major intersection in the capital’s French Hill neighborhood, police said Sunday.
According to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, the man fled after being approached by the unidentified 16-year-olds while they were riding bicycles.
“They rode up to him and one of them took out a knife and threatened him, at which time he ran away and contacted police,” said Rosenfeld.
“Police units quickly arrived at the scene and apprehended the two suspects while they were riding their bikes toward east Jerusalem.”
During a subsequent search of the teens, Rosenfeld said police found a knife matching the description given by the Jewish man, at which time the suspects confessed and were placed under arrest.
The incident comes one week after two yeshiva students were stabbed and beaten near the Old City’s Jaffa Gate during an attack by three Arab youths, all of whom were arrested.
One of the victims in that attack was hospitalized with moderate wounds, while the other student sustained a light wound.
Meanwhile, Rosenfeld said Police Insp.-Gen. Yohanan Danino toured flashpoint Arab neighborhoods Sunday to assess ongoing security needs after 1,000 Border Police officers were assigned to patrol at-risk areas.
“The police inspector-general will continue to monitor progress in preventing rock and petrol bomb throwing throughout the capital,” Rosenfeld said, adding that rioting has calmed considerably in east Jerusalem over the last several days.
Last week Danino made headlines when he said anyone who attempts to change the status quo on the Temple Mount should be barred from the site.