Police rescue 11 people from burning building following mass brawl in Rahat

7 officers injured by stone-throwing and smoke inhalation; 2 buildings apparently set ablaze during melee in southern city

By ToI Staff 8 February 2020, 5:24 am

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Debris burns at the scene of a brawl in Rahat in footage published by police, February 7, 2020. (Israel police)

Israeli police rescued 11 people from a burning building following a mass brawl in the southern city of Rahat on Friday.

Seven officers were injured by smoke inhalation and stone-throwing during the incident, police said in a statement.

Police had initially been called to respond to the brawl, during which two buildings were apparently set ablaze. A large number of officers responded to the melee and managed to get the situation under control, the statement said.

The people police rescued from the fire were described as residents of one of the buildings, and did not appear to have been involved in the fighting.

Video published by police showed officers passing crying children and infants over a concrete wall to escape the burning building, and carrying them at a run past a burning car and debris to a waiting crowd on a street.