IDF probing reports new conscripts attacked at East Jerusalem gas station

The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that they were investigating a report that several soldiers were attacked after a bus they were on stopped at an East Jerusalem gas station.

In the incident that occurred late Thursday, several female recruits got off the bus and were approached by several people acting in a suspicious manner who threatened them, the army said.

Another soldier who was on the bus tried to make the suspects go away, at which point they attacked him and knocked him to the ground, the army said.

According to the IDF, during the altercation two officers on the bus saw the suspects approaching the soldiers brandishing sticks and fired in the air, after which the suspects fled.

The army gave no motive for the incident and did not identify the suspects or say if they were being sought.

The army said details were passed to police, who would investigate the incident.

The Ynet news site quoted police as saying they did not receive reports of a suspected attack, but rather “a brawl between Arabs and soldiers.”

No injuries were reported.