Anyone familiar with Ora Junction usually thinks of traffic jams, buses, the light rail and the road leading toward Hadassah Ein Kerem. This week, one of the major transportation junctions in southwest Jerusalem looked very different, after a violent brawl broke out and ended only after a police officer fired a warning shot into the air.
The incident took place this week on the road in the Ein Kerem area, at Ora Junction. A report received by police brought officers from the Moriah station to the scene, where, according to police, they identified a violent fight involving several people.
Given what police described as an immediate danger to those present, one of the officers called out to the suspects and then fired a single warning shot into the air in order to neutralize the danger and separate those involved. According to police, the violence stopped immediately after the shot was fired.
What happened during the violent brawl at Ora Junction in Jerusalem?
After the warning shot, officers took control of the scene and separated the sides. Five suspects, residents of East Jerusalem, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the brawl. Two people were evacuated from the scene in moderate condition, according to medical officials.
Jerusalem District Police stated: “Officers from the Moriah station who arrived at the scene identified a violent brawl between those involved. In light of the immediate danger to the safety of those present, one of the officers called out to the suspects and fired a single warning shot into the air in order to neutralize the danger and separate the parties. Following the gunfire, the violence stopped immediately.”
The incident took place at one of the best-known junctions in southwest Jerusalem, used every day by drivers and passengers heading toward Ein Kerem, Hadassah Hospital and nearby neighborhoods. A place usually associated with traffic congestion, red lights and the daily commute took on a very different character this week.
Police brought the scene under control within a short time, but the fact that a warning shot was required to stop the brawl illustrates how unusual the incident was. For drivers and passersby who found themselves in the area, a major transportation junction turned within moments into an active scene of violence.
The five suspects were taken for questioning at the Moriah station of the Zion District. According to police, and subject to the findings of the investigation, they are expected to be brought before the court for a hearing on extending their detention.
The material released so far does not indicate what sparked the brawl or the precise role of each suspect. The investigation is expected to clarify the circumstances of the incident and the extent of the detainees’ involvement.
Ora Junction usually appears in Jerusalem’s public conversation in connection with transportation, congestion and changes to the road network. This week, it made headlines for a very different reason: a violent brawl, two injured people, five suspects and a warning shot needed to restore control.
