Israeli security forces detained Jerusalem's top Islamic cleric as crowds gathered in the Old City following an attack at a highly sensitive holy site that killed two police officers, the cleric's son said.

The grand mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, the city's highest Islamic authority, had earlier gathered in the Old City with others and condemned the closure of the holy site for prayers after the attack.

Israeli police said they had no comment. Hussein's son Jihad Hussein told AFP of the incident, as did one of the mufti's bodyguards.