JERUSALEM (AP) – Ultra Orthodox Jews attacked an unmarked Israeli police vehicle at night, pelted it with stones and smashed the windows while officers were inside, and sparked a riot in which at least six people were arrested, police said Friday.
Violence broke out in Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox city near Tel Aviv. Tensions between the police and Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community have run high during the coronavirus pandemic as many have openly defied lockdown restrictions to hold religious gatherings. Police wishing to break up weddings, funerals, and other gatherings have often faced violent crowds.
The final violence began when the mob in Bnei Brak pelted the police vehicle with stones, shattered the windows and punctured the tires. The agents called in for support, and when reinforcements arrived, the crowd blocked roads and burned tires.
“Police continue to spread a violent and wild riot in Bnei Brak, throwing stones at police officers and burning tires in the center of the city’s main streets,” police said in a statement early Friday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence and pledged to crack down on anyone who breaks the law or attacks the police.
Israel has reported more than 580,000 cases and 4,245 deaths since the start of the pandemic and is currently in its third nationwide lockdown, with most schools and businesses closed.
Israel has launched one of the world’s fastest vaccination campaigns: more than 20% of its 9 million population has already received a first dose. But the arrival of highly contagious strains of the virus has kept the number of cases high.
Israel has more than 80,000 active cases, including hundreds of people in critical condition. Authorities recently extended the lockdown to the end of the month.