Soldier lightly wounded; Police in Negev arrest suspect; motive unknown.
By ETGAR LEFKOVITSknife 88(photo credit: )
A female Israeli solider was stabbed Tuesday when a suspected Arab assailant grabbed her weapon at a bus stop near an army base in the Negev, police said.
The soldier, who was lightly injured in the midday
attack, was standing at the bus stop outside an army base near the town of Mitzpe Ramon when a car pulled up near her.
A male suspect came out of the vehicle and tried to snatch the soldier's rifle, but she fought back.
During the struggle, the man pulled out a knife and stabbed the soldier in the back twice before fleeing the scene with her gun, the police said.
The soldier was evacuated for medical treatment by Magen David Adom paramedics.
Following the attack, police and army forces erected roadblocks in the area, while a helicopter was dispatched in pursuit of the assailant, who the soldier described as having Arab features.
After a short pursuit, police apprehended a 34-year-old Beduin man suspected of attacking the soldier.
The solider's rifle was found in his possession, the police said.
The motive for the attack was under investigation.
