The US has called for a speedy probe into an incident in which a 15-year-old American of Palestinian descent seems to have been badly beaten by Israeli paramilitary police during riots in East Jerusalem.
US Department of State spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed that Tariq Abu Khdeir was being held by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem and said that a consular officer had visited him on Saturday.
“We are profoundly troubled by reports that he was severely beaten while in police custody and strongly condemn any excessive use of force. We are calling for a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for any excessive use of force,” Psaki said.
A video clip circulated on the Internet on Saturday purportedly showed two Israeli border police holding down and repeatedly pummeling a masked youth before carrying him away.
The family of Khdeir, who comes from Tampa, Florida, and was visiting relatives in East Jerusalem, say he was the target of the beating, although the footage is blurred and the victim cannot be identified as he appears also to be wearing a head covering.
A later part of the video shows Khdeir’s face with a heavy black eye and swollen lip.
The 15-year-old is a cousin of Mohamed Abu Khdeir, the youth whom Palestinians believe was abducted and murdered by far-right Israelis on Wednesday.
The Israeli Ministry of Justice said in a statement that the police investigations department was looking into the incident.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Tariq Abu Khdeir was one of six rioters detained during violent protests over Wednesday’s killing, three of whom were found to be carrying knives.
The police said Tariq Abu Khdeir resisted arrest, attacked officers and had a slingshot for lobbing stones when he was arrested.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Florida on Friday said Tariq Abu Khdeir was US-born and called on the State Department to seek the teenager’s release.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said police were yesterday requesting that the Jerusalem District Court extend the teenager’s detention.
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