Acre mayor Lankry shot in chest, moderately hurt

Lankry in stable condition at Nahariya Hospital after shooting near Kfar Yasif; police searching area for suspects, motive unclear.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Acre mayor Shimon Lankry 370 (photo credit: Courtesy Jewish Agency)
Acre mayor Shimon Lankry 370
(photo credit: Courtesy Jewish Agency)
Acre mayor Shimon Lankry was shot in the chest and moderately wounded while in his vehicle near Kfar Yasif in the North overnight Thursday.
Lankry was able to call an ambulance to transport him to hospital in Nahariya. His condition was stable, he was conscious and his life was not in danger, according to the hospital.
The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear. Police were searching the area of the shooting for suspects.
Lankry was alone in his vehicle when he was shot.
He has served as Acre mayor since 2003.
In a reaction to the assassination attempt, fellow Mayor of Or Yehuda Simcha Yosivov, urged the government to make a swift and appropriate response on Friday morning.
In a letter directed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other prominent security officials, Yosivov wrote: "It is the responsibility of the judicial system to protect the public's chosen representatives. The assassination attempt on my friend, Acre Mayor Shimon Lankry, crosses every red line. The writing is on the wall."
He further suggested that local municipal offices be shut down for the day in order to hold an emergency meeting which will broadcast the message that mayors must "lead their cities without fear."
Police Insp.-Gen. Yohanan Danino promised to place the issue of violence towards mayors at the top of the police's priorities.
His promise came after meeting with MK Miri Regev (Likud) who is the incoming chairwoman of the Interior Committee.
Danino and Regev agreed that there should be an official discussion on the subject.