At least 2 dead in Israeli synagogue accident

At least two worshippers were killed and more than 100 injured on Sunday when a grandstand collapsed in a synagogue under construction in the occupied West Bank.

Bystander video captured the moment the seating area crashed to the ground.

The accident in Givat Zeev, just north of Jerusalem, raised more questions about safety measures at large ultra-Orthodox events, as Sunday’s tragic accident occurred just two weeks after 45 people were crushed to death in a stampede at a religious gathering in northern Israel.

A police spokesman said 650 worshippers were at the Givat worship site for the start of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.

The event was held in a partially constructed synagogue.

The local mayor and fire and police officials said it was held despite the lack of a permit and official warnings that the building zone was unsafe.