Ultra-Orthodox mob ambushes cops in Jerusalem, injuring 3

Three police officers were injured in overnight clashes with an extremist ultra-Orthodox mob in Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim neighborhood, according to police.

According to police sources quoted by Hebrew media, cops entered the neighborhood to arrest organizers of repeated violent protests against work on the light rail that is set to pass through Haredi neighborhoods, raising the objection of some extremist factions who fear it will harm their lifestyle and existing public transportation.

The force was ambushed by dozens of local men who hurled rocks, metal objects, potted plants and glass shards at them, police say.

In one incident, rioters locked several officers inside a building using metal chains. Additional forces were called in to rescue them and disperse the crowd.

One of the protest organizers allegedly attempted to evade arrest by dressing up as a woman, but was nevertheless apprehended today.

כוחות משטרה פשטו בדקות האחרונות על מאה שערים ועצרו חשוד שניסה להתחפש לאישה pic.twitter.com/RykjY9V1Bz

— חיים גולדברג (@haim_goldberg) April 20, 2021

Police say it was a “serious incident” and vow to continue enforcing the law “with determination” and with a heavy hand against violent attempts to prevent them from doing so.