Jerusalem: Deadliest Terror Attack Since 2011: 7 Dead

Terrorist On Murderous Rampage Kills 7, Injures Others in Shooting at Jerusalem Synagogue

Margaret Flavin 

As the Jewish Sabbath was just underway, a terrorist on a murderous rampage killed 7 and injured others in a shooting outside a synagogue in Jerusalem Friday night.  The attacker, alleged to be a 21-year-old Palestinian man from East Jerusalem,  was killed by police while trying to escape.

A 14-year-old boy is among the fatalities.

Police said the attack was one of the worst Israel has seen in years. A police spokesman shared, “The attacker is a resident of East Jerusalem. We are completing operations at the scene. Right now, unfortunately, we are talking about seven people killed and another three seriously wounded.”

According to police, the terrorist arrived by car at 8:13 p.m. at a building used as a synagogue in the neighborhood in the northern part of East Jerusalem and opened fire at people outside the synagogue and other passersby.

The attacker then fled the scene by car toward the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina — several hundred meters away — where he encountered officers who were called to the scene.

Police said the terrorist — a resident of East Jerusalem — was shot dead after he exited the car and opened fire on the officers while trying to escape on foot.

A handgun used in the attack was seized.

According to Channel 12 news, the terrorist first shot an elderly woman in the street, then encountered a motorcycle rider and shot him, before reaching the synagogue and opening fire at people outside.

Speaking to reporters from the scene, police commissioner Kobi Shabtai said the attack was one of the worst Israel had seen in years.

“The terrorist shot at everyone he encountered. He got out of the car and began a murderous rampage with a handgun,” Shabtai said.

With seven killed, the shooting in Jerusalem was the deadliest terror attack since 2011, when terrorists crossed into Israel from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing eight Israelis. The last deadliest Palestinian terror attack was in 2008, when a gunman from East Jerusalem killed eight Israeli students at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in the capital.