Five people have been killed and others have been injured after a stabbing attack in southern Tel Aviv and a shooting attack in the West Bank, Israeli officials say, making it Israel’s deadliest day in the recent wave of violence.
The first attack happened during afternoon prayers when a 36-year-old man from the Palestinian village of Dura near Hebron attacked worshippers at a synagogue in southern Tel Aviv. The attacker was quickly pushed out of the synagogue by worshippers and taken into custody when police arrived at the scene, Israeli officials said.
One victim was pronounced dead at the scene while two others were rushed to Sourasky Medical Center, where a second victim died of his injuries. The third victim is not believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.
The suspect, who did not have a security record, had a permit to work in Israel and was employed at a nearby restaurant, the Jerusalem Post reported. It marked the first such incident in Tel Aviv in more than a month.
Just hours later, a Palestinian man opened fire and used a vehicle as a weapon in an attack on the Jewish community of Gush Etzion in the West Bank, killing at least three people. The victims were described as a 25-year-old, a 40-year-old Palestinian man, and a person of about 50 years of age. The nationalities of two of the victims were not immediately confirmed, but one was reported to be an American citizen.
“Second attack today. Shots fired at Alon Shvut Junction, suspect fled the scene and rammed his vehicle into pedestrians at Gush Etzion,” said Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). “Three have been killed and several injured in the attack. The terrorist was apprehended.”
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