10 arrested for brawl between families in Galilee village

Police arrested 10 people suspected of participating in a massive brawl between two rival families in the northern village of Kafr Manda overnight Sunday.

The suspects were set to appear before the Acre Magistrate’s Court on Monday for a remand hearing. The suspects were said to be male and between the ages of 20 and 55, Hebrew-language media reported.

According to witnesses, rioters fires shots and hurled rocks and firecrackers during the late-night melee. Still, no injuries or damage were reported.

Police were called to the scene and dispersed crowds using riot control means.

“The incident was apparently sparked by an argument between two young people,” one Kafr Manda resident told Ynet Sunday night. “It then turned into a much larger, more violent brawl. It was very dangerous and arresting those involved in the riot was not easy.

כך נראתה הקטטה שהתרחשה אמש בין שתי משפחות בכפר מנדא • @samiaah10 pic.twitter.com/6ypJqHQq5n

— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) November 6, 2016

“Luckily it did not end in tragedy,” he added.

Twice this year, police were called to restore order in Kafr Manda after residents brawled in the streets.

Some two dozen residents of the Israeli Arab village were injured in two separate riots that preceded the town’s local elections in April.

Witnesses at the time said dozens of firecrackers and stones were hurled, and property was set ablaze. At least 10 ready-for-use Molotov cocktails were seized by police at the scene.

“Its a shame that we’ve reached this situation,” the unnamed resident told Ynet. “They could have resolved the situation without violence but unfortunately some people do not understand how to deal with problems and resort to violence without considering the grave consequences.”