Eighteen suspects allegedly involved in throwing IDF-issue smoke grenades at Bloomfield Stadium in mid-October were arrested in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Israel Police announced.
The events at Bloomfield Stadium led to dozens of injuries and the cancellation of the Tel Aviv soccer derby.
The arrests followed a weeks-long undercover investigation that gathered evidence of a coordinated plan by organized groups of fans, the police said.
According to the police, suspects associated with Hapoel Tel Aviv’s “Ultras” allegedly smuggled pyrotechnics into the stadium while covering their faces to avoid identification.
Nearly 50 grenades thrown, dozens injured
Police said 48 IDF-standard smoke grenades were thrown toward packed sections of the stadium and at a cluster of officers, while dozens of flares were lit and some tossed toward the pitch.
Witness accounts collected by investigators included injuries to a 15-year-old boy who suffered heavy bleeding after being struck, his 12-year-old sister, who required treatment for breathing difficulties, and at least two officers hit by grenades in the hand and eyes.
IDF smoke grenades are defined by law as weapons and are capable of causing serious harm.
Officers raided multiple addresses across Israel and brought the suspects for questioning at the Tel Aviv District Central Unit headquarters.
Currently, the detainees are expected to be brought before a court for remand hearings as the investigation continues, and additional arrests are anticipated.