Panic erupted at Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda Market after a violent brawl sent crowds fleeing in fear of a terror attack.
What began as a dispute between several individuals spiraled into full-blown chaos Thursday night at Jerusalem’s famed Mahane Yehuda Market, unleashing scenes of panic among hundreds of shoppers and tourists.
Eyewitnesses said the confrontation quickly escalated into a mass brawl, and within seconds, terrified visitors stampeded through the crowded market, fearing the worst.
“People were crying, screaming, running with babies in their arms — everyone thought it was a terror attack,” one witness recounted.
Some bystanders even drew their weapons and rushed toward the scene, believing they were facing a security threat.
The incident struck during peak evening hours, when the market was jam-packed with weekend visitors at the height of the summer vacation. Witnesses said the dense crowd made the panic particularly dangerous, with fears of a deadly stampede.
Authorities later clarified that the incident was not terrorism, but rather a violent argument gone out of control. Still, the sudden wave of fear underscored how tense and fragile public security feels in Jerusalem today.
