A Palestinian man plowed his car into a crowd of border policewomen in East Jerusalem on Friday morning — injuring seven people, including four cops, before fleeing the vehicle while brandishing a knife, according to reports.
Mohammed Salayma of East Jerusalem was shot and critically injured after he allegedly drove into the group of Border Police officers near a light rail station serving the Old City’s Damascus Gate, Haaretz reported.
Two of the victims were hospitalized in moderate condition, while the others suffered light injuries.
The attack added fuel to tensions a day after Palestinians vowed to stop security coordination with Israel.
The Israeli security agency Shin Bet said the attacker has a criminal record. Palestinian sources said he acted in response to social media reports of an attack on Muslim worshippers on the Temple Mount.
He posted a photo of himself covered in a Palestinian flag on Facebook — with the words: “In the name of Allah and the homeland,” the paper reported.
Four months ago, a Border Police officer was killed and 13 people were injured in a similar attack at virtually the same location.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat vowed to “keep fighting terrorism,” adding that Purim celebrations would be held as planned in Jerusalem. A holiday event is planned later Friday at Safra Square, a few hundred feet from the scene of the attack.
Tensions have been high between Israelis and Palestinians in the aftermath of last year’s war in the Gaza Strip, violence in Jerusalem and allegations by Palestinian leaders of Israeli war crimes.
The Palestinian threat to halt security coordination increased pressure on Israel before a general election March 17 — though Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has promised to negotiate with whoever wins the election, Agence France-Presse reported.
