Fri 27 January 2023:
A shooter opened fire and killed at least seven people in front of an East Jerusalem synagogue before being put to death, according to Israeli medics.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency rescue services said the shooter was neutralized at the scene and that some of the injured are in critical condition.
Emergency services were responding to calls about a shooting in the city’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood on Friday night, they also said.
The attack occurred around 8:15pm local time, near a synagogue on Neve Yaakov Street, according to a police statement, which added that the alleged attacker fled the scene in a vehicle and was killed after a shootout with police forces.
A second person was possibly in the car and the Israeli authorities were now searching that individual.
Israeli police said the attack occurred in Neve Yaakov, a Jewish area in East Jerusalem. TV footage showed several victims lying on the road outside the synagogue being tended to by emergency workers.
The incident comes one day after the deadliest day for Palestinians in the West Bank in over a year, when Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians and wounded several others in the West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. A tenth Palestinian was killed in what Israel Police called a “violent disturbance” near Jerusalem.
Israeli police said the gunman was shot and killed at the scene.
BREAKING: Eight dead and several injured in Jerusalem synagogue attack, say Israeli officials.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency rescue services said the shooter was neutralized at the scene and that some of the injured are in critical condition.#Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/BIlLaSpHjz
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) January 27, 2023
‘A natural response’
In Gaza, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told the Reuters news agency Friday’s attack was “a response to the crime conducted by the occupation in Jenin and a natural response to the occupation’s criminal actions”. He stopped short of claiming the shooting.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad also praised but did not take responsibility for the attack.
Israeli military raids have become commonplace over the last year with at least 200 Palestinians – fighters and civilians – killed.
The United States State Department on Friday condemned the “apparent terrorist attack” in Jerusalem “in the strongest terms.”
“This is absolutely horrific,” said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel. “Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to those killed and injured in this heinous act of violence.”
Patel said the US is “still gathering information” but that the US government is “in direct touch with our Israeli partners.”
Patel said no change to the schedule of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s upcoming trip to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank was expected.
The shooting was the deadliest on Israelis since a 2008 attack killed eight people in a Jewish seminary, according to Israel’s foreign ministry. Given the location and timing, it threatened to trigger a tough response from Israel.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant scheduled a meeting with his army chief and other top security officials.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:
TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent
FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE)
https://web.facebook.com/ipindependent
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
