News Brief
10/10/2008, Tishrei 11, 5769
Quiet Returns to Akko after Police Closed Off City
Police have closed off Acre and have deployed hundreds of law enforcement officers around the city to maintain a tense quiet following Arab riots on Yom Kippur that caused widespread damage but no injuries. Police helicopters are hovering over the Arab-Jewish city, and policemen are armed with tear gas canisters and stun grenades.
More than 100 vehicles and 40 stores were damaged in rock throwing attacks before police set up roadblocks and arrested several Arabs. Shas Knesset Member David Azoulay, a resident of Akko, said he was approximately 200 yards from the riots when they erupted. He sharply criticized the police for waiting more than half an hour before reaching the scene and then allowing the attacks to continue before taking action against the rioters.