Repeat offender stabs 6 at Gay Pride march in Jerusalem: Police

An assailant stabbed six people taking part in a Gay Pride march in central Jerusalem Thursday, seriously wounding two of them, Israeli police and health services said.

Police reportedly confirmed that the stabbing suspect is Yishai Schlissel, an ultra-orthodox Jew who was convicted of stabbing three particpants at 2005's Gay Pride march, according to Haaretz.

An unconfirmed photo of a man with a knife thought to be Schlissel is circulating on social media.

Schlissel was recently released after serving 10 years in prison for the 2005 attack and had returned to his home in Moddin Ilit, Haaretz reported.

From his hometown, he had been distributing pamphlets in which he called on "all Jews faithful to God" to prevent the parade, residents told the Israeli daily.

After Thursday's attack, the Magen David Adom, the Jewish equivalent of the Red Cross, said two of the injured parade goers, in their 30s, were in serious condition.

Hundreds of police are deployed to prevent violence breaking out in the highly conservative city during the annual march.

In past years, ultra-Orthodox protesters have gathered in the Mea Shearim quarter to denounce what they consider the "abomination" of homosexuality.