Hundreds of young Haredi men clashed with police in Jerusalem Thursday, injuring 13 officers and overturning a cruiser in a riot apparently sparked by an attempt to issue a parking ticket.

Five of the injured officers were taken to the hospital after protesters threw stones and other objects at the forces who arrived at the scene. Police had announced four arrests as of early Thursday evening.

The commotion broke out after a municipal inspector who had been issuing parking tickets in the capital came under attack from two young Haredi men, police said. The pair kicked him and made threats on his life, promising to “slaughter” him if he returned to the area.

Police officers called to aid the inspector in distress arrested one of the assailants, angering locals. Hundreds then gathered around the officers in an attempt to free the detainee, and events quickly mushroomed into rioting.

According to Hebrew outlets, officers had realized that the assailants were draft dodgers and sought to hand them over to the Military Police.

The police only said in their statements that the riots were sparked over the parking ticket, and did not mention whether the pair were draft dodgers.

Police used stun grenades and tear gas on demonstrators.

עשרות מפגינים חרדים מקיפים ניידת משטרה, שלטענתם ניסתה לעצור שלושה עריקים בירושלים@daniel_grovais pic.twitter.com/yhc9HBlS68

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) December 18, 2025

Following the large-scale riots, a group of Haredi men hurled stones at a bus carrying IDF trainees and commanders from the Kfir Brigade in Jerusalem.

According to the IDF, the bus was forced to stop after civilians gathered around it, prompting commanders to disembark and secure the vehicle until police arrived.

Officers dispersed the demonstrators and allowed the bus to continue on its way. No injuries were reported. The military said it “strongly condemns any violence against its soldiers.”

The unrest continued later Thursday night, as officers arrested eight Haredi protesters who attacked law enforcement during protests at the entrance to Ashkelon.

Dozens of young Haredi men tried to reach the coastal city in order to stage a protest near the residence of an officer in the........

© The Times of Israel