Terrorist stabs, wounds 2 Israeli Border Police officers in Jerusalem attack

Attacker neutralized at scene near Herod's Gate.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Updated: SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 19:00
Terrorist stabs, wounds 2 Israeli Border Police officers in Jerusalem attack
A male and female Border Police officer were stabbed from behind and seriously wounded Monday morning by a terrorist from east Jerusalem, who was shot by Herod’s Gates, outside Jerusalem’s Old City.
The attack follows a thwarted Friday stabbing by a Jordanian national, who was shot dead a few meters down the road, near Damascus Gate.
According to police, Monday’s attack took place shortly after 7 a.m., and was captured on surveillance video.
“The terrorist was sitting on a bench, and spotted the two officers when they were walking up the street from the Damascus Gate area towards Herod’s Gate,” said Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
“As soon as he had the opportunity, he stabbed the male police officer in the back of the neck, and then stabbed the female 38-year-old officer in the back of the neck, as well. In the few seconds he had, while the terrorist continued to stab the female officer, the male officer took out his gun and shot him.”
Aerial CCTV footage of the attack shows several people running to aid both officers.
The female officer, who is 38, was seriously injured and taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center for multiple stab wounds to her neck and upper back. The male officer, who is in his 40s, was injured moderately-to-seriously, and taken Hadassah University Medical Center, in Ein Kerem.
First-responder, Magen David Adom paramedic Dudu Hazanovitch, said he helped treat the male officer.
“When I arrived at the scene, I saw an approximately 45-year-old man who was fully conscious with a penetrating wound to the upper body, being treated by Magen David Adom paramedics,” said Hazanovitch.
“I aided him and dressed his wound to stop the bleeding, and shortly thereafter I evacuated him in moderated condition to the hospital where he is being treated by doctors.”
On Monday night, Rosenfeld said the unidentified female officer remains in serious condition, while the male officer is in moderate condition.
The terrorist, who is reportedly in his early 20s and from east Jerusalem’s volatile Ras al-Amud neighborhood, was transferred to a hospital in critical condition, Rosenfeld said.
A Shaare Zedek spokeswoman said the woman was unconscious upon arrival, and has been placed on a respirator. The male officer was conscious, a Hadassah official said.
Following a spate of seven attacks over the past four days in Jerusalem and the West Bank, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for heightened security, and police temporarily closed several nearby shops in the Old City to search for other suspects.
“Security assessments are continuing in order to deal with the situation,” said Rosenfeld. “There is heightened security there now. There were certain shops near where the attack took place that were temporarily closed in order to deal with the security situation and prevent any further terrorist attacks from taking place.”
Interior Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Jerusalem Police District Commander Yoram Halevy, and Police Commissioner Insp.-Gen. Roni Alsheikh visited both officers at their bedsides.
During the visit, Erdan praised their heroism.
“We have police officers and incredible warriors who protect the citizens of Israel with their bodies, and I salute them for that,” he said.
“I only pray that they will recover quickly and return to full strength. We are dealing with a vicious enemy that is spreading murderous incitement. One hundred years of terrorism has not caused us to surrender, and we will fight and cripple the enemy.”
Halevy echoed Erdan’s sentiments, adding that security throughout the capital will remain heighted as the High Holy Days approach.