Police arrest four suspects over Druze-Muslim brawl

Police from the coastal city of Acre arrested four suspects on Monday on suspicion that they were involved in a violent clash Friday night between Muslim and Druze factions in the northern village of Abu Snan.

The suspects, all in their twenties, are suspected of throwing stones and wounding people during the brawl that left dozens injured.

Acre Station commander Kobi Karni said that he expected more arrests in the future.

At least 26 people were injured in the brawl Friday night between some three dozen Muslim and Druze youths, prompting the two communities’ leaders to cancel school on Sunday. In the end special education institutes, kindergartens, and junior schools were opened after a meeting between Education Ministry officials, police, and local school administrators. Other schools reopened on Monday.

One of the injured was left in critical condition, five were seriously wounded, and the rest lightly to moderately injured, Israel Radio reported.

Most of them were hurt by a fragmentation grenade used during the fighting. Protesters also used live ammunition in the brawl.

A video of the violent incident was published on the popular Arabic-language website Panet, according to which some shots were fired during the fight.

Police sent reinforcements to the town at the time to restore order and maintain calm, although minor incidents continued throughout the weekend.