(Click HERE to watch live footage from FOX) Israeli police stormed the Al Aksa Mosque after hundreds of angry Islamic (Rashi: Per Adam) worshippers threw stones and bottles in an eruption of outrage over contentious Israeli renovation work at a disputed Old City site. [Picture are all courtesy of AP. Click on them to ENLARGE.]

About 200 police streamed on to the Har Habayis and hurled stun grenades at the rioting Arabs.

Fifteen policemen were wounded who were attacked with Molotov cocktails, rocks and glass bottles, while the Kosel was evacuated to ensure the safety of Mispallilim .

As many as 300 protesters barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa mosque at the compound. Police were stationed near the mosque, but did not enter it.

The protesters are angry about Israeli repair work on an earthen ramp leading to the hilltop compound, (near the Ezras Noshim at the Kosel) which they fear will damage the mosque.

The clashes erupted at the end of Friday prayers at the site. Police had braced for possible riots during the prayers, which often have been a flash-point for clashes.

Israeli security forces tripled their usual numbers around the Old City Friday morning, expecting confrontations. Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco told Israel Radio that around 3,000 security officers were posted around the city because of “intelligence indications” that disturbances could erupt.

Israeli authorities promised that the plan to replace a centuries-old ramp damaged in a 2004 snowstorm would not damage the compound, about 60 yards way. But when work began earlier this week, it drew fierce protests in the Arab world, where many leaders accused Israel of plotting to harm Muslim holy sites.

In the alleys of the Old City, Palestinians pelted police with rocks, bottles and garbage. In the West Bank, youths hurled stones at Israeli security forces at a major checkpoint leading into Jerusalem. Scheduled protest marches went ahead peacefully elsewhere in the West Bank.

Israeli officials have said Muslim extremists are using the renovation work as a pretext to stoke anger against Israel. Speaking during a visit to Spain Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni accused “political extremists” of trying to “exploit this situation.”