A mob of Arabs attacked two Jewish homes in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem Tuesday night, wounding a security guard in his eye and causing property damage.
One home, known as the “Flowers House” because of its location near Herod’s Gate, also known as Flower’s Gate, was attacked from two directions with at least two Molotov cocktails and firecrackers.
The wounded guard suffered from shrapnel in his eye and was evacuated to the Shaarei Tzedek hospital. The fire ignited by the projectiles caused property damage but other security guards at the scene were able to extinguish it.
A resident of the Flowers House told Tazpit News Agency that when security forces arrived and began searching for the attackers, Arabs began attacking the nearby “Emet House” with rocks.
Police were at the scene but did not carry out any arrests.
“This is not the first time we have been attacked like this,” said the resident, who asked to remain anonymous. “This was clearly a coordinated attack, involving two attacking groups and scouts. We do not live with a true sense of security here, but I understand that I serve as an emissary, and like on the frontier, if I am not here no Jews will be, and therefore I am not only here for myself.”
She expressed satisfaction with the security guard’s decisive response last night, but criticized the police. “Even when they arrest armed suspects they release them for what they claim is a lack of evidence.”
A police spokesperson confirmed that the attack occurred and that the guards fired warning shots in the air. He added that police are searching for the attackers.
Palestinian Authority media did not report the attacks but the Bethlehem-based Ma’an News Agency did inform tis readers that Israeli police “demolished a room” in the nearby Silwan Valley.