Mea Shearim residents riot after police arrest suspect in torching of cellphone shop

Dozens of residents of Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood rioted in the streets late Wednesday night, vandalizing vehicles, blocking roads and setting fire to trash cans.

The riot broke out after police arrested a suspect in the torching of a cellphone store in the city that sells smartphones. Many ultra-Orthodox people only use so-called kosher phones — devices stripped of social media and most other apps — and have rejected the sale of smartphones in their communities. Such riots have taken place several times in recent years.

Due to the various blocked-off roads, a bus driver appeared to have made a wrong turn into the neighborhood, leading to his vehicle being pelted with stones by rioters. By the time police arrived at the scene to rescue the driver, his tires were slashed and his windshield was cracked.

Police said a brick was also dropped from a building onto a police car below, causing significant damage to the vehicle.

Officers were scanning the area for suspects, but no injuries were reported as a result of the riot.