Israeli police enter holy site in Jerusalem to disperse Palestinian rioters

JERUSALEM – Israeli police say they have stormed a Jerusalem holy site to disperse a riot.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says Palestinian rioters hurled stones and firecrackers on Wednesday from atop the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism.

Rosenfeld says police then entered the site and dispersed the rioters with tear gas and other non-lethal means.

The compound is known to Muslims as the "Noble Sanctuary" and is Islam's third-holiest site. Israel captured the area from Jordan in the 1967 war.

Clashes often erupt after Muslims conclude their prayers at the site.

Jews typically pray below at the Western Wall but tensions have grown lately with an increased number of Jews arriving to pray at the Temple Mount as well.