Peace as Madinah rioters arrested

Madinah, December 18 (Arab News): Police dispersed rioting mobs in the Osbah district close to Quba Mosque in Madinah on Thursday.

A few people were lightly injured while many cars and house windows were vandalized.

"Groups of youths started rioting and throwing stones. Some people were injured and many cars damaged. Police dispersed the rioters and detained some of the trouble makers from both sides," said spokesman of Madinah police Brig. Mohsen Al-Raddadi who did not specify what sparked the dispute.

"Investigations are under way to find out the cause of the dispute. Police are stationed in the area to avoid repetition of violence in the neighborhood," Al-Raddadi added.

According to some eyewitnesses, the trouble started when some teenagers and youths in Al-Osbah neighborhood and residents of nearby districts began throwing stones at one another at about 10 p.m. on Thursday. The rioters, whose number he estimated at 800 men, also broke window glasses of parked cars.

He added that 17 cars were damaged and some house doors were destroyed in the clash. Shortly, a large number of police force arrived at the scene and closed the roads leading to the place and broke up the rioters and the onlookers gathered around, eyewitness said.

According to another source, the police force included 10 teams of special task force, 40 security patrols and 200 policemen. "A number of ambulances and water trucks were also seen speeding to the location of the clash," another eyewitness said.

A medical source said the number of the injured was very few and none of the injuries was serious.