JERUSALEM: Three attackers opened fire near Jerusalem’s holiest site on Friday, wounding three Israelis, two of them critically, before they were killed, said Israeli police.
Army Radio said the shooting took place near the sacred site known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount.
Police said the three attackers were killed by security forces, reported foreign media agencies. The Israeli ambulance service Magen David Adom said two of the Israelis wounded were receiving life-saving treatment.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the shooting attack occurred Friday morning at Lion’s Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.
An initial report said that three terrorists opened fire on a group of policemen near the entrance of Temple Mount. The policemen were able to respond quickly and a gunfight commenced, during which all three terrorists were neutralised.
Police are investigating how the assailants were able to get the weapons past strict security.
Magen David Adom reported three Israeli males were injured, two of whom are now in a very critical condition while one had been lightly wounded and is fully conscious. The two critically wounded men have been taken to Hadassah University Medical Center. The third one was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
Police spokesperson said the three terrorists walked from inside the Temple Mount towards one of the gates to the compound when they noticed the policemen. They then shot the policemen and ran to one of the mosques inside the compound.
The police pursued and killed them.
Weapons were found on their bodies.
Jerusalem chief of Police has ordered the Temple Mount closed, evacuated and Friday prayers cancelled.
