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
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.
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One suspect in the brawl was arrested.
Five of the police officers were sent to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. The others received treatment on the scene.
Rahat is located north of Beersheba and home to a predominantly Bedouin population.