Mea Shearim: rescued those trapped in a fire and were greeted with stones
Police and Rescue were dispatched to the fire that broke out at the neighborhood of Meah Shearim • radicals greeted them with a hail of stones and eggs • IEC technician injured his shoulder from a stone • Photos
- Eli Shlesinger, B'Chadrei Charedim
- כ' אייר התשע"ג
קובי הר צבי
Riots in Meah Shearim: On Belcher Street in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood a fire broke out in a building. Fire forces operated to rescue those trapped in the building and took over the fire. Due to the danger of collapse of the building, police were called to keep passers-by away - but then stones were thrown at them.
Kobi Har Tzvi, a B'Chadrei Charedim photographer: "There is still a lot of smoke in the area and the building in danger of collapse. Police were called, and amongst them residents noticed a policewoman. Residents began rioting and throwing stones at police."
One of the men called to the scene is Aryeh, a technician at the Electric Company, who was asked to cut the power in order to avoid a shock hazard. He 'won' a stone on his shoulder.
Aryeh told B'Chadrei Charedim that after cutting off power, he was waiting on the side for instructions from the firefighter officer, when suddenly he felt pain in his shoulder, from a stone was thrown at his head. "It is shameful that a person who comes to help save the lives of the residents to prevent electric shock, is under attack for no good reason."
Mainly objects were thrown from the Synagogue Ohel Sarah, and police threatened that if they do not stop the riots they will break into the structure.
At 18:15 rescue forces received a report on a fire on the second floor of the five storey building located on Blecher, with trapped people on the third floor. The fire broke out after two gas tanks exploded.
At the scene operated seven fire crews when explosions were heard at the same time from the gas tanks. Dangerous structural engineer came onto the scene, as there was concern the building would collapse, and he diagnosed that there is a danger of a collapse of the balcony.
Initial investigation revealed that a man who lives on the second floor, collected large amounts of garbage up to the ceiling. The garbage burned for hours.
Hatzalah spokesman, said: "Many paramedics were sent forward to the event due to report on the number of trapped, miraculously the trapped people were rescued safely, and civilians who stayed in apartments in nearby buildings were injured as a result of thick smoke and treated."
Six casualties were treated at the scene. Four were injured and were taken to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital, in mild condition.
Kobi Har Tzvi, a B'Chadrei Charedim photographer: "There is still a lot of smoke in the area and the building in danger of collapse. Police were called, and amongst them residents noticed a policewoman. Residents began rioting and throwing stones at police."
One of the men called to the scene is Aryeh, a technician at the Electric Company, who was asked to cut the power in order to avoid a shock hazard. He 'won' a stone on his shoulder.
Aryeh told B'Chadrei Charedim that after cutting off power, he was waiting on the side for instructions from the firefighter officer, when suddenly he felt pain in his shoulder, from a stone was thrown at his head. "It is shameful that a person who comes to help save the lives of the residents to prevent electric shock, is under attack for no good reason."
Mainly objects were thrown from the Synagogue Ohel Sarah, and police threatened that if they do not stop the riots they will break into the structure.
At 18:15 rescue forces received a report on a fire on the second floor of the five storey building located on Blecher, with trapped people on the third floor. The fire broke out after two gas tanks exploded.
At the scene operated seven fire crews when explosions were heard at the same time from the gas tanks. Dangerous structural engineer came onto the scene, as there was concern the building would collapse, and he diagnosed that there is a danger of a collapse of the balcony.
Initial investigation revealed that a man who lives on the second floor, collected large amounts of garbage up to the ceiling. The garbage burned for hours.
Hatzalah spokesman, said: "Many paramedics were sent forward to the event due to report on the number of trapped, miraculously the trapped people were rescued safely, and civilians who stayed in apartments in nearby buildings were injured as a result of thick smoke and treated."
Six casualties were treated at the scene. Four were injured and were taken to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital, in mild condition.