RAMALLAH, April 14, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Thursday raided and burned down a Palestinian-owned currency exchange shop in central al-Bireh, a city adjacent to Ramallah district in the central West Bank.

WAFA correspondent said Israeli soldiers raided the shop during the predawn hours, and proceeded to seize all of its belongings, before throwing hand grenades inside the shop, completely burning it down, along with other adjacent commercial stores.

Forces also detained a youth identified as Baha’ al-Baw for filming the Israeli incursion.

Israeli soldiers reportedly briefly detained the owner of the currency shop on Wednesday, before releasing him. The owner is identified as Ghazi al-‘Ajoli.

Violent clashes were witnessed in the area during the Israeli incursion, where forces used tear gas canisters and live and rubber baton rounds against locals. However no injuries were reported.

An official at the Palestinian civil defense said, Israeli soldiers prevented their crews’ access to the area for over 40 minutes, which caused the fire to spread up three floors, burning down at least ten commercial shops in the building where the currency shop was located.

Three members of the civil defense were injured while attempting to put out the fire.

T.R.