More than 100 people were injured in violent clashes between Eritrean protesters and Israeli police in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Israeli emergency services said.
The clashes initially broke out in the morning between supporters and opponents of the Eritrean government who gathered near a club to protest at an event that was set to be hosted by the Eritrean embassy.
The violence quickly escalated, with some protesters turning against Israeli police forces who came to intervene.
Footage on social media showed the incident took place near the club, where the venue’s windows were smashed, and police cars and stores vandalized.
The Israeli police said in a statement that they had used live fire and stun grenades in an attempt to stop the violence. They said that 39 people had been arrested and that almost 30 police officers had been injured.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is receiving regular updates on the situation and has instructed the national security minister and the police commissioner “to act to restore public order,” according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.
