US Teen In Israel Beating Video Row Released
Sky News – 26 minutes ago
A 15-year-old boy who was filmed apparently being severely beaten by Israeli forces has faced the media for the first time outside court.
Tariq Abu Khadair, an American of Palestinian descent, spoke as he was released from custody and will be under house arrest for nine days.
Police claim Tariq resisted arrest, attacked officers and was carrying a slingshot for hurling stones when he was detained during clashes with security forces.
When reporters asked the teenager who attacked him, he said: "I think it was the police.
Tariq, who goes to school in Florida, said: "I was standing and watching. I was watching the group of people and they came from the side of me and then grabbed me."
He said he was treated well in prison but he said he felt "really bad" for a number of other accused Palestinians who remained in custody, adding: "I hope they get better."
Tariq's family claimed he was punched and kicked in an attack by two police officers.
His mother Suha Abu Khadair said her son was innocent and undercover security forces "came out from nowhere and attacked him and beat him".
The mobile phone footage of the alleged assault - said to have been recorded in East Jerusalem - was released by a human rights group that described it as state-sanctioned violence against children.
The US State Department said it was "profoundly troubled" by reports of Tariq's beating and demanded an investigation. Israel's Justice Ministry said it was looking into the incident.
His relatives say he is the cousin of Mohammed Abu Khadair, who was killed in Jerusalem earlier this week.
The 16-year-old Arab boy was apparently burned alive and his death sparked days of violent protests.
Palestinians believe Mohammed was killed by Israeli extremists in a revenge attack after three Israeli youths were abducted and found dead last month in the West Bank.
Six Jewish suspects have been arrested over Mohammed's killing. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, told the AP news agency those detained were young males, including several minors.
Micky Rosenfeld, national spokesperson for the Israeli police, told Sky News the video footage of the alleged attack on the American teenager was "edited" and "biased".
Mr Rosenfeld said: "It does not represent the events that took place before the actual arrest."
He claimed 15 police officers were hurt in clashes with Palestinians who had thrown pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails, fireworks and stones.
And he added six masked Palestinians had been arrested by undercover police officers.
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