What was supposed to be an ordinary night in the center of Jerusalem turned into a scene of chaos. A local resident, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, drove recklessly against the direction of the light rail. In minutes, the familiar order of the tracks became a dangerous battleground, with pedestrians and vehicles caught in the path of a violent ride.
Police chase in Jerusalem’s center
Officers from the city’s central station, alerted to the danger, pursued the car as it mounted sidewalks, struck traffic islands and damaged property. Despite repeated calls to stop, the driver continued. Only after a targeted volley of fire at the vehicle’s tires did the chase come to a halt.
The man abandoned the car and tried to escape on foot, but was caught after a short pursuit. Preliminary checks indicated he had been driving under the influence of alcohol.
Drunk driving as a public threat
Police said the suspect was taken for medical treatment and will be brought before a court to extend his detention. “This was criminal and dangerous driving,” a police statement stressed, “endangering not only the driver but every road user.”
The incident adds to a pattern in which alcohol magnifies reckless behavior on Israel’s roads. In Jerusalem, a city where the light rail has become a symbol of stability and connectivity, the contrast with this night’s lawlessness was stark.
Shots fired on the light rail line
While some in the public voiced concerns over police use of firearms in the heart of the city, officials defended the move as essential to prevent further harm. “Drivers who endanger the public with reckless and criminal conduct,” police declared, “will face uncompromising enforcement and the full weight of the law.”
For many witnesses, the image of bullets disabling a car on the light rail tracks underscored how fragile the city’s sense of safety can be when order collapses.
(TikTok arrest – 218 km/h near Jerusalem)
Safety of light rail passengers in Jerusalem
The case raises broader questions about how to safeguard the tens of thousands who rely daily on Jerusalem’s light rail. Beyond security challenges, the city also faces the mundane but deadly risks of alcohol-fueled driving.
In a city that embodies both ancient traditions and modern infrastructure, the night’s events offered a sobering reminder: public safety depends not only on vigilance against external threats but also on curbing recklessness from within.
