LIVE BLOG: Tensions rising in Jerusalem
An Israeli borderpoliceman has died from injuries sustained after a van hit a group of pedestrians at a light rail station in Jerusalem on Wednesday, MEE's contributors in Jerusalem report.
Thirteen people were also injured in the attack.
Israeli police shot and killed the suspected driver of the van and told MEE's contributors that they are treating the incident as "a terror attack".
After the driver hit pedestrians, he reportedly tried to flee in his van, hitting several cars in the process, while Israeli police shot at him, according to an eyewitness at the scene.
- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/breaking-car-reportedly-strikes-pedestrians-jerusalem-injuring-3-1906666780#sthash.AoX2qpYJ.dpuf- An Israeli borderpoliceman has died from his injuries after a van hit a group of pedestrians at a light rail station in Jerusalem.
- Thirteen people were also injured in the attack.
- Israeli police shot and killed the suspected driver of the van, who tried to flee the scene.
- The incident is being treated as "a terror attack" and comes two weeks after another Palestinian man rammed his car into a group of people in East Jerusalem, killing a three-month-old baby.
- A Hamas spokesperson in Gaza called the killing the "natural response to the crimes of the [Israeli] occupation".
- Clashes have also been reported in the al-Aqsa compound, which was briefly closed off to tourists.
- The confrontation between police and Palestinians occurred after some far-right Jewish groups announced plans to visit the site, despite the tense political situation.
- An Israeli border policeman has died from his injuries after a van hit a group of pedestrians at a light rail station in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood
- Thirteen people were also injured in the attack
- Israeli police shot and killed the Palestinian driver of the van, Ibrahim al-Akri, who tried to flee the scene
- The incident is being treated as "a terror attack" and comes two weeks after another Palestinian man rammed his car into a group of people in East Jerusalem, killing a three-month-old baby
- A Hamas spokesperson in Gaza called Wednesday's killing the "natural response to the crimes of the [Israeli] occupation"
- Clashes have also been reported in the al-Aqsa compound, which was briefly closed off to tourists
- Early Wednesday, a confrontation between police and Palestinians occurred after Israeli settlers visited the al-Aqsa compound, despite the tense political situation
- Jordan recalled its envoy to Israeli in light of the clashes at al-Aqsa
Live Updates
Israeli media reported a “large commercial vehicle with Palestinian plates” was driven into a junction in the Gush Etzion cluster of settlements south of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, late on Wednesday.
Three soldiers have suffered “moderate-to-severe” injuries, according to Ynet News, and Israeli forces are now scouring the area after the assailants escaped towards Hebron following the attack.
Barricades have been erected to try and catch the suspects, who drove into the army post near a Palestinian refugee camp close to the group of settlements.
Unconfirmed reports have emerged that a car has been driven into a junction south of Jerusalem, seriously injuring one person and moderately wounding two others.
Gush Etzion is a group of settlements south of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, situated in a southern area of the occupied West Bank.
If confirmed it would be the second such attack on Wednesday, after a van was driven into a light rail station in Jerusalem earlier, killing one officer and injuring 14 others.
More to follow.
The body of Ibrahim al-Akari, who was shot dead by Israeli police in Jerusalem today, will be handed over to his family at around 11pm (2100 GMT) tonight.
Akari was shot dead after driving a van into a group of people at a light rail station in Jerusalem - killing one police officer and injuring 14 others.
He will be buried at Bab al-Asbat in the city.
Footage has emerged showing the moment when a van driven by a Palestinian from East Jeruslaem rammed into a group of people at a light rail station.
One officer was killed and 14 injured in the attack - the driver was later shot dead by police.
An Israeli police officer has spoken out after shooting dead a Palestinian who killed one and injured 14 after driving a van into a group of border-police in Jerusalem.
"There is no doubt in my mind that any officer would act in the exact same way," the officer told Jerusalem Post, adding that it was "how we educate and train our officers."
Ibrahim al-Akri, from Shuafat in East Jerusalem, was killed by police after attempting to flee the scene.
Dov Green, a 20-year-old American who has been studying in Jerusalem for two years said:
“Again, and again and again a terrorist attack. It’s not something new even, it’s another terrorist attack. It’s not even a shock any more. These things happen once every two weeks, every three weeks.
“The community is very angry and is also very angry with the government which doesn’t do enough. Like what happened just happened two weeks ago, again even in the same area. The government should be more strict, I mean, I don’t know what they should do. I would say they should take more radical action in the radical areas, which include Silwan, and Shuafat. They should send them to Gaza or to Jordan, somewhere out of Israel, they shouldn’t be able to just take a car and attack.”
Further protests by right-wing groups are now expected to take place this evening, at the site of the attacks.
Right-wing Israelis visit the al-Aqsa compound today to mark a week since the shooting of Yehuda Glick - a far-right Israeli activist who belongs to the controversial Temple Mount movement (Photo Credit: MEE/ Oren Ziv)
Their visit sparked clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police.
(Photo Credit: Mahfouz Abu Turk)
Jordanian Minister of Islamic Affairs Hayel Dawood has warned that recent Israeli "violations" in East Jerusalem threatened to harm relations between Amman and Israel.
"Relations between countries are based on interests, mutual respect and a commitment to law and international treaties," Dawood told Anadolu Agency.
"Relations will suffer due to Israel's disrespect for the [1994] Jordan-Israel peace agreement," he warned.
His comments came after Jordan recalled its ambassador from Israel to protest Israeli "violations" in East Jerusalem.
Photojournalist Oren Ziv on the ground for MEE said: "Tens of youth gathered near the main checkpoint of Shuafat, where they began clashing with police. They threw stones, fireworks and molotov coctails at the checkpoint.
"Police used tear gas and entred the camp. Clashes are still going on."
Photo credit: MEE / Oren Ziv