Palestinian killed near Tapuah junction after firing on bus stop

Man armed with a home-made handgun, not clear if he was targeting Israeli hitchhikers or soldiers, a security source said.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST.COM STAFF
IDF soldiers at West Bank checkpoint 370 (photo credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
IDF soldiers at West Bank checkpoint 370
(photo credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
A Palestinian terrorist opened fire at an Israeli bus stop in the Samaria region of the West Bank, at the Tapuah Junction, on Thursday evening.
The man was armed with a home-made handgun, and it was not immediately clear if he was targeting Israeli hitchhikers or IDF soldiers, a security source said.
Soldiers from the Shaked Battalion of the Givati infantry Brigade who were at the scene returned fire immediately, killing the terrorist. At time of terror attack there were 4 civilians at the hitch hiking stop, an IDF spokesperson said. Soldiers were checking the gunman's body for explosives.
Samaria Brigade Commander Col. Yoav Yarom arrived on the scene, and additional IDF forces have been sent to the area as well, the source said. There were no injuries in the attack.
Head of the Samaria settler's association Benny Katzover, said on Thursday that the attempted terrorist attack was addition proof that the peace negotiations with the Palestinians are causing an upswing in terror.
"It is clear to everyone. . .that holding negotiations with killers harms Israel's security," he said.