JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A large portion of the 27 people arrested during Sunday’s riots in Bnei Brak were bystanders who took no part in the disturbances and committed no offense.

Amid mounting criticism of the police, officers allegedly carried out what witnesses described as heavy-handed arrests in an apparent attempt to demonstrate control.

In one incident, a charedi cyclist passing through the area on his way home from work was thrown to the ground by police without provocation and subsequently detained. He was released at 11:00 p.m.

כך נראית משטרה שאיבדה שליטה.
עונש קולקטיבי.
לתקוף עוברי אורח סתם כי הם תושבי בני ברק זה פשע. פער אדיר בין לעצור ולהושיב מאחורי סורג ובריח את תוקפי החיילות (וכך צריך לעשות) לבין לתקוף כל דוס.
ומי שמצדיק את אלימות המשטרה שלא יתלונן על אלימות בהפגנות שמאל.
אלימות היא אלימות והמשטרה… pic.twitter.com/Hdb5E114Ej

— ישי כהן (@ishaycoen) February 16, 2026

Attorney Raphael Tzik, representing the detainee, said: “This was brutal, unrestrained enforcement against an innocent civilian. My client, a completely law-abiding individual, happened to be there while riding his bicycle home from work.

“Without any cause or justification, officers shoved him forcefully and slammed him onto the road in a cruel and dangerous manner, then arrested him despite his having done nothing wrong.

“We intend to file an urgent complaint with the Police Internal Investigations Department and pursue legal action against the violent officers.”

Speaking Monday morning on Kol Barama, the cyclist described the incident: “I survived by a miracle and can speak, but I did nothing. I heard them say to each other, ‘We must leave here with arrests.’ I told the officer: these are my bicycle and my glasses. I’m not resisting, I’ll come with you.

“I begged them to leave me unharmed, but it didn’t help. Fortunately, it was documented. I even heard them whispering, ‘Let’s just hope we don’t end up with a lawsuit.’”

In other disturbing footage of gratuitous violence, a man tried to place a kippah on the head of a youth being dragged away by the police officers. In response, a plainclothes policeman pushed him violently to the ground in front of an oncoming car. Fortunately the car stopped before running over the man, but the incident very nearly ended in tragedy.

תראו את התיעוד הזה.
אברך שניגש להחזיר לעצור את הכיפה שנפלה לו.
לא אלימות ולא כלום.
בתגובה, שוטר יס”מ מטיח אותו בעוצמה לעבר הכביש.
בנס הרכב נעצר ולא דרס את ראשו של האברך.
לזה קוראים ענישה קולקטיבית.
זו משטרה שלא יודעת לתפקד.
משטרה שמחפשת תמונות בטלוויזיה.
“עוצרת” עשרות ובערב מבינה… pic.twitter.com/JuGPRMWVms

— ישי כהן (@ishaycoen) February 16, 2026

Journalist Yishai Cohen who brought the footage stressed that this is “collective punishment” from police who “don’t know how to function and only want pictures on television. After arresting tens of people it realizes they are innocent and releases them in the evening.”

המוקד: מנדי ריזל: מג”בניקים מכים באלימות אשה חרדית, עוברת אורח תמימה, בבני ברק ומושכים בפאה שלה. האם נשמע גם כעת את גל הגינויים? pic.twitter.com/EneHpEaBwU

— חדשות המוקד (@hamoked_il) February 15, 2026

In another shocking clip on social media, police can be seen pushing and shoving an innocent female bystander, pulling her wig as she remonstrates with them.