Violent disturbances broke out Monday evening near Yerushalayim’s Bar-Ilan Junction, where protesters opposing ongoing light rail construction blocked major roads, set fires, and damaged infrastructure at the work site before police moved in to disperse the demonstration and make arrests.

The unrest centered around the busy intersection, where demonstrators disrupted traffic and engaged in confrontations with police officers attempting to restore order.

According to police, rioters obstructed roadways in the area, ignited fires within the light rail construction zone, and caused significant disruptions to public order. Following the escalation, a police commander formally declared the gathering an unlawful disturbance and instructed participants to leave the area.

Police said that when protesters refused to comply with orders to disperse, officers and Border Police personnel began clearing the streets and intersections, using force where necessary to reopen traffic lanes and reestablish public order.

Authorities later reported that most demonstrators had been pushed back onto nearby sidewalks and that all major roads in the area had been reopened to traffic. Police forces remained on scene afterward to prevent further disturbances.

Amid the unrest, detectives from Yerushalayim’s Lev Habira police station arrested two suspects accused of vandalizing the light rail construction compound.

According to police, the suspects were caught in the act while allegedly damaging equipment and infrastructure at the site. They were subsequently taken into custody and transported to a police station for questioning.

Video from the scene showed one of the arrests being carried out by an undercover detective disguised as a chareidi man, a tactic police occasionally employ during demonstrations to identify and apprehend suspects.

Police characterized the incident as a “serious disturbance of public order” and vowed to pursue criminal charges against those responsible for the vandalism and destruction.

Officials emphasized that the damage was not limited to the construction project itself, describing the actions as an attack on critical public infrastructure and major transportation routes serving the city.

{Matzav.com}