Israeli police storm mosque compound

George Wright and agencies

The Guardian

Thousands of Palestinians today barricaded themselves inside mosques at one of Islam's holiest sites after Israeli police stormed worshippers who they said had been throwing stones at officers. Officers entered the al-Aqsa mosque compound after some of the Muslim worshippers who gathered there for Friday prayers began throwing stones at police deployed nearby, according to an Israeli police spokesman cited by the Associated Press. About 20 people were wounded and nine arrests were made as police moved in, firing plastic bullets, stun grenades and tear gas in an attempt to disperse the alleged stone-throwers. But mosque authorities denied any stones had been thrown, and Palestinian worshippers expressed anger at the police tactics. Ramsi Jamil, 18, told the Associated Press: "We were still praying. The next thing we knew dozens of police were in the compound. They started firing stun grenades and tear gas." Ismail Ibrihim, 35, said: "We didn't get a chance to finish our prayer ... While I was praying a tear gas canister went through the door into the mosque."

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