Hamas claims Jerusalem terror attack, calls on Palestinians 'to defend al-Aksa'

Terrorist who slammed car into pedestrians identified as Ibrahim al-Acri from Shuafat in east Jerusalem.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Ibrahim al-Acri‏ (photo credit: Courtesy)
Ibrahim al-Acri‏
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The terrorist who killed one person and injured 14 others when he rammed his car into pedestrians in Jerusalem on Wednesday has been identified as Ibrahim al-Acri.
Al-Acri, 38, was shot and killed by police at the scene of the attack.
Al-Acri was from Shuafat in east Jerusalem  and was known to security authorities as a Hamas operative, according to reports. Al-Acri's brother was among the Palestinian prisoners released in the Gilad Schalit deal. In one of al-Acri's final Facebook posts, he praised the terrorist who shot Rabbi Yehuda Glick last week.
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released Wednesday.
The organization called al-Acri a "martyr" and called his attack "a heroic operation."
Hamas praised the attack, calling on Palestinians to conduct additional terror activities.
"We congratulate the activity carried out by Jerusalem's blessed heroes that targeted soldiers and security men," Hamas said .
"This was a result of the crimes of the Zionists who continue to attack the worshipers and to violate the Palestinians' holy sites," the organization added.
"We call on the people of Jerusalem and the West Bank and all of the Palestinians to carry out more of these activities with full force in order to defend al-Aksa," the statement read.