Police arrest second teen on suspicion of assaulting soldier in Mea Shearim

Extremists allegedly surrounded, damaged car of father and son

The Israel Police on Wednesday arrested a second suspect in connection with an alleged attack on a soldier and his father last week – two days after they arrested the first suspect, a 19-year-old, who remains in custody.

The arrests come on the heels of a police investigation into an attack on a soldier and his father who drove into the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Shearim where they say their car was surrounded by haredim, who began cursing at them and throwing eggs, stones and other objects at their car, causing it damage. The father and son were lightly injured, according to local media reports.

On Wednesday morning, police arrived at the house of the second suspect, a minor, and arrested him when he tried to escape through a window.

Both suspects were set to be brought for remand extensions.

The police highlighted in a statement that they had launched a thorough investigation into the incident and expected to make more arrests.

“The Israel Police force acts with determination and without compromises by using all the means at its disposal in order to locate, reach and enforce the law regarding any criminals who allow themselves to attack and insult those in uniform,” the police said.

The state has been grappling with the opposition of many haredim to the IDF for years, as have the police in recurring cases of violence over the issue, particularly against the enlistment of haredi men to the army.

The Mea Shearim neighborhood has seen riots over the issue and violent clashes between extremist haredim and police.

Last June, the son of former Yesh Atid MK Dov Lipman was the subject of severe harassment there when he entered a bookstore wearing his army uniform.