At least one dead after terrorist attack in Jerusalem
A Palestinian man rammed his car into a crowded train platform in east Jerusalem today.
The man then attacked people with an iron bar and injured at least six in what authorities called a terror attack before he was shot dead by police.
It was the second such attack in the past two weeks and deepened already heightened tensions between Arabs and Jews in the city.
Police said the motorist slammed his car into the train platform in east Jerusalem, backed out and proceeded to drive away, hitting several cars along the way.
He then got out of the car and attacked a group of police officers on the side of the road with a metal bar before he was shot and killed.
Police identified the man as a Palestinian from eastJerusalem.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility by any Palestinian organisation but the Islamic militant group Hamas praised the attack and called for more violence.
“We praise this heroic operation,” said Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum. “We call for more such … operations.”
Wednesday’s car attack was almost identical to one two weeks ago that killed two people, a baby girl and a woman from Ecuador, at a train platform, also in Jerusalem.
Palestinian protesters and Israeli police have been clashing almost daily in east Jerusalemin recent months.
Israel captured east Jerusalem – with its sites sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians – from Jordan in the 1967 war.
Palestinians demand the territory for their future capital and the fate of the area is an emotional issue for Jews and Muslims.
The car attack came shortly after clashes in the Old City, where Palestinians threw rocks and firecrackers at police to protest a planned visit to a key holy site by Israeli supporters of a right-wing activist who was shot by a Palestinian gunman last week.
The Israelis had planned on commemorating a week since a Palestinian shot and wounded American-Israeli activist Yehuda Glick, who has campaigned for more Jewish access to the location, which is revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. Palestinians view such visits as a provocation and often respond violently.
Several police officers were hurt in the clashes, said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, adding that police used stun grenades to disperse the Palestinians. Quiet was soon restored, he said.
Mr Glick, a leading voice in a campaign to expand Jewish prayer rights on the hilltop complex, was wounded a week ago when a Palestinian gunman on a motorcycle opened fire at him as he left a conference in Jerusalem.
Muslim worshippers view Jewish prayer at the site as a provocation and Israeli authorities place tough restrictions on it. Everyone visiting the area from the Israeli side has to be screened by police.
Superintendent Micky Rosenfeld, Israeli Police’s Foreign Press Spokesman posted the following immediately after the incident:
14 people injured and taken to Jerusalem hospitals. Emergency teams and police at the scene. Heightened security in Jerusalem continues
— Micky Rosenfeld (@MickyRosenfeld) November 5, 2014
Police units at scene of attack in Jerusalem. Injured taken to hospital. pic.twitter.com/XaYVGPhppH
— Micky Rosenfeld (@MickyRosenfeld) November 5, 2014
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