Several police hurt by rioters at Temple Mount
JPost, Feb 24 2012
Security forces dispersed hundreds of Muslim worshipers rioting and throwing stones at the Temple Mount following Friday prayers. Eleven police officers injured by stones were treated on the scene and four rioters were detained, with additional arrests expected. Police managed to disperse all of the rioters with stun grenades, including several youths who took refuge in the Aqsa Mosque. Security forces raided the Aqsa Mosque plaza after the rioters threw stones at police at the Mughrabi Gate at the entrance to the compound. Jerusalem Police had warned of unrest at the Temple Mount earlier in the week as right-wing activists said they would ascend to the holy site and Palestinian activists responded by saying they would come to “protect” the area. Overnight Monday, police raided an apartment in Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood and found extremist right-wing documents related to the Temple Mount. Police arrested one activist and took him for investigation. On Sunday, Police arrested 18 Muslims during unrest that broke out on the Temple Mount after 50 protesters pelted tourists and officers with stones. Jerusalem Police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said the protesters were reacting to reports that a group of Jews bent on destroying the Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock and building the Third Temple on the site planned to ascend the Temple Mount en masse. There were similar rumors of such an attempt to be led by Likud activist Moshe Feiglin the previous Sunday.
