Two Israelis have been killed in a terrorist attack earlier this morning, in which a gunman opened fire at three different locations near Givat Hatachmoshet (Ammunition Hill), Jerusalem.
Magen David Adom reported than at 10:12, the emergency services were called to the vicinity of the light rail station in Jerusalem's Givat Hatachmoshet, after reports on eight casualties; casualties including a critically wounded 60 year old woman with bullet wounds in her upper body, an 30 year old policeman, who were both evacuated to Hadassah Mt. Scopus Hospital where they later died. The shooter has been neutralized and killed.
The terrorist first started firing at the National Headquarters junction, near the Israel Police national HQ. He fired from his vehicle at people waiting at the rail station, and then escaped. He continued speeding towards the Clermont-Ganneau junction, while firing at a woman sitting in her car.
While driving towards Sheikh Jarrah, the shooter stopped his car by the road and fired at an Israel Police Special Patrol Unit force, which had been patrolling nearby as part of the bolstered police deployment in the area, due to the Jewish holidays. The force pursued the shooter on their motorcycles and it was during the pursuit that the policeman was critically wounded and another was lightly wounded from gunfire. The rest of force opened fire, neutralizing and killing the terrorist.
Magen David Adom medical assistants and paramedics are at the site, providing medical assistance to several wounded, including four people suffering from a stress reaction. In total eight people were evacuated to hospitals, including the two fatalities, as well as three in medium condition and three lightly wounded, including a policeman.
An investigation aimed at discovering the gunman's identity, where he came from and whether he acted alone is currently being conducted at the scene.
Hamas lauded this terrorist attack, calling it "a natural reaction to the crimes of the occupation."
In October 2015, a 19 year old terrorist armed with a knife stabbed a 25 year old ultra-orthodox man at the same location, and tried to grab the weapon of a light rail security man. He was neutralized by a Special Patrol Unit force.
In April 2015, a 37 year old terrorist from northern Jerusalem drove his car into a bus station at the junction, killing the son of Rabbi Yair Sharki and brother of Channel 2 reporter on religious issues Yair Sharki, and critically wounding another woman.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 9, 2016
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