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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Violence at Jerusalem holy site | Violence at Jerusalem holy site |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Violence has broken out at a contested Jerusalem holy site after Israeli police moved in to break up crowds of stone-throwing Palestinians. | |
| Hundreds of police poured into the compound known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and Jews as the Temple Mount, firing rubber bullets and tear gas. | |
| A number of Palestinians are reported to have barricaded themselves inside the al-Aqsa mosque within the compound. | |
| They were protesting at excavation work being carried out by Israel nearby. | |
| Plan of the holy sites | Plan of the holy sites |
| The excavations are a prelude to the construction of a new walkway leading to the compound and the mosque - Islam's third holiest site. | |
| Palestinians say it could damage the foundations of the compound and Muslim leaders had called for a "day of anger" on Friday to voice their opposition to the move. | Palestinians say it could damage the foundations of the compound and Muslim leaders had called for a "day of anger" on Friday to voice their opposition to the move. |
| We are besieged. Ambulances are not allowed to enter to evacuate the injured Palestinian people. Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, speaking from inside al-Aqsa mosque | We are besieged. Ambulances are not allowed to enter to evacuate the injured Palestinian people. Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, speaking from inside al-Aqsa mosque |
| The Israeli authorities say renovations are needed to safeguard the ancient site and have guaranteed that there will be no structural damage to the area. | The Israeli authorities say renovations are needed to safeguard the ancient site and have guaranteed that there will be no structural damage to the area. |
| The compound is also revered by Jews as the site of their biblical temples. | The compound is also revered by Jews as the site of their biblical temples. |
| It is situated, along with most of Jerusalem's holy sites, in the Old City in East Jerusalem - an area captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war. | It is situated, along with most of Jerusalem's holy sites, in the Old City in East Jerusalem - an area captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war. |
| Israeli police say 17 protesters and 15 police officers have been injured in the clashes. | Israeli police say 17 protesters and 15 police officers have been injured in the clashes. |
| Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, who is holed up inside the mosque, spoke to the BBC by telephone saying that Israeli forces had thrown a cordon around the area and were not allowing anyone in or out. | Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, who is holed up inside the mosque, spoke to the BBC by telephone saying that Israeli forces had thrown a cordon around the area and were not allowing anyone in or out. |
| "We are besieged. Ambulances are not allowed to enter to evacuate the injured Palestinian people. Paramedics are offering first aid to them," he said. | "We are besieged. Ambulances are not allowed to enter to evacuate the injured Palestinian people. Paramedics are offering first aid to them," he said. |
| Dangerous flashpoint | Dangerous flashpoint |
| The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says that although at present these are relatively minor skirmishes, such is the sensitivity of this site that it has the potential to trigger much greater violence elsewhere. | The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says that although at present these are relatively minor skirmishes, such is the sensitivity of this site that it has the potential to trigger much greater violence elsewhere. |
| We are working carefully and cautiously and waiting for them to come out and leave the area Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld | We are working carefully and cautiously and waiting for them to come out and leave the area Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld |
| An Israeli police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, told the BBC that more than 2,500 police officers had been deployed in the Old City to prevent the unrest from spreading. | |
| "We are in complete control of the situation. Our police officers and border police are located at every area in and around East Jerusalem as well as in the Temple Mount," he said. | "We are in complete control of the situation. Our police officers and border police are located at every area in and around East Jerusalem as well as in the Temple Mount," he said. |
| "The rioters who have dispersed have entered inside the different areas as well as the mosque and at the moment police are not entering. We are working carefully and cautiously and waiting for them to come out and leave the area." | |
| There have been widespread protests among Palestinians and the wider Muslim world since the excavations began on Tuesday. | There have been widespread protests among Palestinians and the wider Muslim world since the excavations began on Tuesday. |
| SACRED TO MUSLIMS Site of Prophet Muhammad's first prayers and ascent into Heaven, home to al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock SACRED TO JEWS Site of first and second Temples and the rock on which Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice Clickable guide to holy sites | SACRED TO MUSLIMS Site of Prophet Muhammad's first prayers and ascent into Heaven, home to al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock SACRED TO JEWS Site of first and second Temples and the rock on which Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice Clickable guide to holy sites |
| The compound area has regularly been a flashpoint for violence. | The compound area has regularly been a flashpoint for violence. |
| In 1996, Israel's opening of an exit to a tunnel near the site triggered riots in which 80 people died in clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops. | In 1996, Israel's opening of an exit to a tunnel near the site triggered riots in which 80 people died in clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops. |
| And in 2000, the Palestinian uprising began at the mosque following a controversial tour of the site by Israel's then opposition leader, Ariel Sharon. | And in 2000, the Palestinian uprising began at the mosque following a controversial tour of the site by Israel's then opposition leader, Ariel Sharon. |
| Since 1967, the compound has remained under Muslim jurisdiction in conjunction with neighbouring Jordan. | Since 1967, the compound has remained under Muslim jurisdiction in conjunction with neighbouring Jordan. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the clashes? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the clashes? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100 | You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100 |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |