JERUSALEM (JTA) — More than 50 Israeli police officers were hurt during a mass police drill.
The exercise involving 6,000 officers simulating a mass riot was held Thursday at a southern Israeli military base.
Police acting as rioters and as peacekeepers used excessive force, causing the injuries, which did not require hospitalization, according to reports. In addition, five policemen were hurt when a police car crashed during the drill, requiring one officer to be airlifted to a hospital. According to some reports, an officer caused the accident when he fell asleep at the wheel.
A police statement following the drill said, in part, "When a drill of this size is conducted that is meant to resemble a real situation there are casualties."
