Palestinian police shoot driver for not stopping for inspection
Shooting touched off an impromptu protest by dozens of outraged residents, witnesses said.
By The Associated PressRAMALLAH - Police in the West Bank town of Ramallah opened fire Sunday on a driver who refused to stop to show his documents, touching off an impromptu protest by dozens of outraged residents, witnesses said.
Doctors at the Ramallah hospital said the 23-year-old driver, Anas al-Agroudi, was shot in the chest and in serious condition.
West Bank police recently launched a campaign to confiscate illegal weapons and stolen cars, and have been carrying out snap inspections. This was the first incident of violence in Ramallah since the campaign began late last month.
Security officials said the car was stolen.
Protesters who took to the streets after the shooting burned tires and threw stones at police, who responded by firing in the air.
Some of the roughly 100 demonstrators were militiamen affiliated with the young guard of the ruling Fatah Party, which hopes to take control of the Palestinian parliament after Jan. 25 elections.
They taunted police and persuaded dozens of shopowners to shut down their businesses and join the demonstration.
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