NEWSRAEL: It seems as though the provocation was planned well in advance. The violence is spreading as you see to Gaza and other Arab towns, and probably will escalate. The online incitement is huge!
Police spokespersons (Jerusalem):
Tonight, while the police acted as usual in the evening to allow many Muslims to mark the month of Ramadan and arrive safely in the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount for the evening prayer, dozens of law-breaking youths and masked people, put fireworks, sticks and stones into the mosque and fortified it violently, hours after the Ta'Tefitz prayer in order to violate the order on the spot while desecrating the mosque.
In addition, they started chanting incitement and rioting inside the mosque, and locked its doors from the inside with obstacles and fortifications in the doorways.
After many and prolonged attempts to get them out by talking to no avail, the police forces had to enter the compound in order to get them out, in order to allow the Fajr prayer as a series and to prevent a violent disturbance.
During the entry of the forces, stones were thrown at them and many fireworks were fired inside the mosque by dozens of lawbreakers and troublemakers. The police arrested dozens of suspects who fortified themselves, rioted, threw stones, shot fireworks and desecrated the mosque.
One policeman was injured in the leg by stones.
The rioters caused damage to the mosque and desecrated it.
Unfortunately, at a time when many police officers are working to enable freedom of worship while maintaining security, law and order in the holy places and all over the city of Jerusalem, there are those who choose to riot and violate public order. Those troublemakers harm first and foremost the Muslim public who come to pray in the mosque.
We will continue to act resolutely against troublemakers and lawbreakers for the sake of public peace and security.