An Arab rammed his car into a group of Israeli border police officers, wounding two. It was the latest in a series of car terror attacks plaguing Jerusalem and the surrounding area.
An Arab terrorist ran his car into a group of Israeli policemen on patrol on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem on Wednesday, moderately wounding one policewoman and lightly injuring a policeman. Police shot and killed the terrorist.
Both victims were evacuated to hospitals in Jerusalem with injuries to their limbs.
Initial reports indicate that the terrorist hit the police force and then reversed his car in an attempt to do it again. It was at that point that he was shot.
Arabs rioted at the site of the attack as medical teams tended to the victims.
Jerusalem’s Chief of Police Moshe Edri arrived at the scene and commended the police for their decisive response, which he believes saved lives. “They acted as expected of them; they neutralized the terrorist and prevented the further harming of innocent victims,” he said, adding that he had no doubt that the incident was a terror attack. He ordered the security forces to raise their level of alertness and boost their presence in crowded areas.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat vowed not to enable Palestinian terrorism to hinder the capital’s day-to-day life, saying, “We will not allow terror to disturb our routine and will fight it relentlessly.” He commended the officers for their quick and professional conduct. “Our response to terror is to continue with our life,” he stated.
The brother of the assailant arrived at the scene, claiming that his sibling was not a terrorist. He also acknowledged that the terrorist who murdered eight Yeshiva students in 2008 was a relative.
Stream of Palestinian Terror
Last Thursday an Arab terrorist ran his car into a group of four Israelis who were standing at a junction near the community of Alon Shvut in Gush Etzion, just south of Jerusalem. One man was critically wounded, another moderately, and two others were lightly injured. The terrorist fled the scene but was captured soon after and taken in for questioning, during which he confessed that he had tried to kill the Israelis.
Israel has been suffering from a wave of vehicular terror attacks. The most recent and lethal attack occurred in Jerusalem on April 16 when an Arab rammed his car into two Israelis sitting at a bus stop, killing Shalom Cherki, 25, and critically wounding Shira Klein, 20.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel