Nine members of a gang who tried to rescue two Palestinian women arrested at Second Cross Street were apprehended.

Nine individuals have been arrested by the Pettah Police on charges of assaulting two police officers and obstructing their duty. This assault occurred on the 23rd of last month on Second Cross Street, Pettah, during an investigation into two Palestinian women who were behaving suspiciously.

On the day of the incident, a state intelligence officer, who was on duty in civilian clothes, became suspicious of the two foreign women. Accordingly, with the assistance of another police officer, he questioned the women and detained them until female police officers arrived at the scene for a further body search.

It is reported that a group, who stormed the location with the intention of freeing the detained Palestinian women, suddenly severely assaulted the two police officers. Amidst this chaotic situation, the two foreign women fled the scene, and the two injured police officers are currently admitted to the Colombo National Hospital and receiving treatment.

Among the nine suspects arrested on charges of obstructing police duty by criminal force are seven individuals engaged in trade on Second Cross Street, a manager of an umbrella manufacturing company, and a driver. The police have further confirmed that these individuals are residents of Colombo, Wellawatte, Kirulapana, and Seeduwa areas.