
Efrat Weiss
2 officers hurt in Jerusalem shooting
Another terror attack in capital: Border Guard officer, police officer wounded when terrorist fires at Israelis standing at Old City's Lions' Gate Friday night; victims taken to hospital in Jerusalem, police seal off roads in area in search of terrorist
Efrat WeissA Border Guard officer and a police officer were seriously wounded on Friday night in a shooting attack near the Lions' Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. A terrorist that arrived on the scene fired at the two, who managed to return fire.
The shooter escaped in the direction of a nearby cemetery, and police scanned the area for him. Police have estimated that the shooting was not linked to the terror attacks that have recently occurred in the capital.
The shots were fired around midnight Friday, towards the people standing near the gate. Large police forces and paramedics were promptly dispatched to the scene. The two victims were taken to hospital in Jerusalem.
First to arrive were two officers, one from the Border Guard and the other police. They heard gunfire, but at first believed it to be from a wedding nearby. When it turned into rapid fire exchange the two rushed to the scene, and found one of the victims lying on the ground and the other returning fire. They also saw a suspicious man fleeing the scene.
"Around 11:30 pm the suspect came towards Israelis, opened fire on them from a short weapon and escaped in the direction of the cemetery. The police officers at the scene fired at him, but apparently he was not hurt," said Commander of the David Branch in Jerusalem Maj.-Gen. Doron Yedid, who arrived on the scene together with large police forces.
Security forces launched a massive search, accompanied by a helicopter and the sealing off of roads. "This was a serious incident," said Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen, who held a situation assessment with Jerusalem District Commander Aharon Franco.
"The terror attack carried out tonight signifies a series of attacks in the Jerusalem district. We will make every effort to track down the attacker, continue the search all night and bring new forces in at daylight," Cohen added.
He said they had had no intelligence warning of an attack of this kind, the last of a series of terror attacks that have occurred in the capital over recent months.
"Jerusalem district is a strong and stable district, and ready for such incidents. I don't see a connection to the other terror attacks in Jerusalem, and the recent series of attacks does not signify anything about the future. There is a huge array of officers and Border Guard officers working day and night," Commisioner Cohen continued.
Ronen Medzini contributed to the story
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