Hundreds of extremist protesters caused extensive damage at a major Jerusalem intersection during a protest against light rail construction.
The protesters blocked the road for an extended period, tore down fences, damaged infrastructure, and set garbage bins on fire.
According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, the crowd tore down iron fences installed along the light rail construction sites, caused significant damage to infrastructure, and set fire to garbage bins and designated cardboard collection containers, creating fires and thick smoke along the road.
At one flashpoint, a security guard for the light rail project was filmed spraying a fire extinguisher toward approaching protesters.
Large numbers of officers from the Lev Habira police station, Yassam, and Border Police were dispatched to the scene and began working to disperse the violent gathering.
After a police officer declared the gathering an unlawful disturbance and ordered the protesters to leave, to no avail, forces began using advanced riot-control measures, including stun grenades. A water cannon was also brought to the scene to push back the rioters.
Police said the rioters engaged in unrestrained violence, hurled objects at security forces, set garbage bins on fire, and aggressively attempted to block traffic routes.
During the operation, security forces arrested two suspects for direct involvement in the riots. One was arrested on suspicion of setting garbage bins on fire, while the second was apprehended after being identified throwing stones at police officers and Border Police troops.
The two were taken to a police station for questioning, while security forces remained deployed in the area to maintain public order.