IDF soldier stabbed to death in southern town of Arad

Police say circumstances likely nationalist

By ANNA AHRONHEIM
Updated: DECEMBER 1, 2017 11:37
Scene in Arad after a suspected terror attack (Credit: Israel Police)
An Israeli soldier was stabbed to death Thursday night in the southern city of Arad in what police say is likely a terror attack.
Paramedics received a call around 9.30 pm about a 20 year old man who had been stabbed and severely wounded at a bus stop outside a mall with stab wounds on his upper body.
"When we arrived, we saw a young man of about 20 lying unconscious with no pulse and not breathing with stab wounds on his upper body. We gave him life-saving medical treatment and carried out advanced CPR operations,” said Magen David Adom Paramedic Ziv Shapira.
Sgt. Ron Isaac Kukia, 19, was a member of the Nahal brigade, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. Kukia, from Tel Aviv, was a private before he was killed and raised posthumously to sergeant.

Police units are searching the Arad area for the suspects that carried out the stabbing attack.  Heightened security continues in and around the city.
Ron Isaac Kukia. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
Ron Isaac Kukia. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
"Police units are continuing to search for the suspects that carried out yesterday evening's attack," Foreign Police Spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said. "Ongoing security assessments are being made in coordination with the IDF, municipality and border police in the area."
"Today in Arad schools are open and police call upon the public to contact police if necessary," he added.
Kukia's funeral will take place on Sunday, December 3, 2017, at 12 p.m. in the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery.