A terrorist opened fire in the direction of a security checkpoint at the entrance to the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat on Saturday evening, killing 18-year-old female Military Police officer Noa Lazar, and severely wounding a 30-year-old security guard.
Early Sunday morning, Hadassah Medical Center spokespersons reported that the security guard was on a ventilator and under sedation in the neurosurgical intensive care unit after undergoing surgery overnight.
The driver of the car the terrorist rode in turned himself in later in the evening, with security forces assessing that he was not involved in the attack.
Israel Police Jerusalem District Commander Superintendent Doron Turgeman stated on Saturday night that one suspect had been arrested and police were searching for three others. Two other suspects were arrested later in the night on suspicion of being involved in the attack. Searches were ongoing to find the terrorist who conducted the attack.
"Israel Police and security forces are now conducting a search for the terrorist, and they will catch him, dead or alive."
Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev
Police, Border Police, special forces and the helicopters of the police aerial unit were conducting searches throughout the area for the suspects. Turgeman stressed that "we will not rest until we place our hands on all those involved in this serious attack."
اللحظات الأولى لإطلاق النار صوب قوات الاحتلال على حاجز مخيم شعفاط شمال شرق القدس pic.twitter.com/SyR2FkfaS5
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) October 8, 2022
According to police, on Saturday evening a vehicle sped towards the Shuafat checkpoint, with the terrorist exiting the vehicle, shooting at security forces and fleeing from the scene on foot towards the Shuafat refugee camp as the vehicle drove in the opposite direction.
The injured parties have been evacuated to Hadassah-University Medical Center, on Jerusalem’s Mount Scopus for medical treatment. As of Sunday morning, the injured security guard was intubated and sedated and in serious condition.
A statement from United Hatzalah, who arrived on the scene to treat the injured, said that "due to the nature of the incident, United Hatzalah's Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit were dispatched to the scene to treat a number of eyewitnesses."
#فيديو| اندلاع مواجهات مع الاحتلال في مخيم شعفاط شمال شرق القدس pic.twitter.com/CgFtjanMUt
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) October 8, 2022
Israeli forces entered the Shuafat refugee camp after the attack in search of the suspects who committed the attack, with clashes breaking out between residents and security forces, according to Palestinian media.
Israeli officials respond to terror attack
Following the shooting, Police Chief Kobi Shabtai headed to the scene of the attack in Jerusalem, an Israel Police statement reported on Saturday evening.
Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev has also stated his intentions to visit the scene of the shooting, saying "this is a difficult evening. The Israel police and security forces are now conducting a search for the terrorist, and they will catch him, dead or alive."
Prime Minister Yair Lapid received updates on the attack and the operations of security forces overnight.
"A severe attack at the Shuafat crossing," said Lapid. "The security forces are working in the field to get their hands on the terrorist. During the holidays, many forces are deployed in the field and work day and night to protect the citizens of Israel. Our hearts tonight are with the victims and their families. Terror will not defeat us, we are strong, even on this difficult evening."
Otzma Yehudit chair MK Itamar Ben-Gvir responded to the terror attack, saying: "Together with the entire people of Israel we pray for the peace of those injured in the terrible attack," before turning his attention to politics, adding "The Gantz intifada is already here, attack follows attack and there is no savior. Gantz is an extreme leftist who does not learn his lesson and continues his policies of weakness toward the enemy."
Palestinian factions celebrate terror attack
Reports and videos circling in Palestinian media on Saturday evening showed children in Shuafat refugee camp being given candy and celebrating the shooting attack with fireworks.
Shortly after the attack, a statement was released by Hamas, saying: "The brave actions [of the shooter] proved that the armed resistance in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem continues and escalates, no matter how severe the enemy's repressive measures are, and no matter how many victims there are."