Palestinian tries to snatch IDF soldier's gun; shot in leg

Police fire on suspect after he attacks soldier with rock on route 90 in Jordan Valley region; both men transported to Hadassah Hospital.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
ambulance (photo credit: MDA)
ambulance
(photo credit: MDA)
A police officer in the West Bank shot and injured Palestinian terrorist who tried to assault an IDF soldier at a bus stop on Route 90, in the Jordan Valley, police said on Friday.
The incident took place near the settlement of Tomer, where the soldier was waiting at a bus stop when he was struck in the head by a rock thrown by the suspect.
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Judea and Samaria Traffic Officer First-Sgt. Zakaria Shafso was in the area during the attack and identified the suspect. He opened fire and injured the suspect, police said.
A helicopter evacuated both suspect and soldier to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem.
Police Insp.-Gen. David Cohen has praised the actions of the officer.
The incident comes less than a week after a reserve soldier was stabbed in Jaffa, in an attempt to snatch his weapon in broad daylight.
The reserve soldier, 22, of Kfar Saba, was on the way to a bus stop at around 8 a.m. on Sunday in Jaffa, when he was set upon from behind by the man.
He struggled with the suspect and sustained a stab wound, before the attacker ran off with his firearm. The soldier gave chase together with a passer-by, and the suspect threw away the stolen gun before getting away.