At least 12 people were injured after a vehicle rammed into pedestrians in northern Israel on Thursday (Feb 27). The police have described the incident as a “suspected terror attack”.

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“There is suspicion that this is a terror attack. Police forces successfully intercepted a suspicious vehicle, apprehending a suspect suspected to be responsible for the ramming” at the Karkur junction south of the city of Haifa, police said in a statement.

Car rams into pedestrians

A spokesman for the police said the suspect was caught in his car shortly after the incident and was “neutralised”. Police chief Daniel Levy is en route to the location of the attack.

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“The terrorist is in police hands. He has been neutralised,” a police spokesman told Channel 12 news.

“The car accelerated and hit a group of people at Karkur Junction. It hit a bus stop,” he said.

“From there, he tried to continue on with the car. He accelerated toward a nearby police car and hit it. The officers chased him, caught him, and neutralised him.”

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Who are injured?

The number of people wounded in the attack has risen to 12, according to medics. 

A 17-year-old girl is in critical condition and is currently unconscious and sedated. She is breathing with the help of a ventilator and is undergoing treatment at Hillel Yaffe Hospital for serious injuries on her head and limbs.

A 60-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman are also in serious condition, both having sustained head injuries. While the man is sedated and breathing with the help of a ventilator, the woman is fully conscious.

Another 18-year-old woman was moderately injured in the attack, while six others sustained light injuries, paramedics added. 

Who is the suspect?

Police confirmed the terrorist who carried out the car-ramming attack near Karkur Junction has been identified as Jamil Zayoud, a 53-year-old Palestinian from Jenin. He was killed in the incident.

According to the statement, the perpetrator had been residing in Israel without a permit and was married to an Israeli citizen.

(With inputs from agencies)