Turkish citizen fatally shot by Israeli police after allegedly stabbing officer in Jerusalem's Old City
Stabbing attack at Jerusalem's Old City
At least one Israeli officer was injured after a person identified as a Turkish national allegedly stabbed him in Jerusalem’s Old City, on Tuesday (Apr 30) afternoon, said the emergency services and police.
What we know about the incident
The incident was later confirmed by the Israel Police who said a Border Police officer was allegedly stabbed and was later rushed to the hospital.
Israel’s emergency services, Magen David Adom (MDA) said that they received the report around 12:32 pm (local time) about a “stabbing terror attack” in Sultan Suleiman Street near Herod’s Gate in Jerusalem and were treating a 30-year-old male for “stab wounds.”
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The officer was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and was said to be conscious and in moderate condition.
About the suspect
The suspect, later identified as a 34-year-old Turkish citizen, allegedly attacked the officer near Herod’s Gate and stabbed him in the upper body, according to the police.
The assailant was neutralised by security forces, said the police in a statement.
The Turkish man, apparently a tourist, was identified as Hasan Skalanen and had entered Israel from Jordan, according to the Israeli media.
Recent attacks in Israel
The attack on Tuesday comes a week after three people were lightly injured after car-ramming attacks in two separate locations in Jerusalem.
The alleged perpetrators were identified as two Palestinian teenagers who were captured after a manhunt.
The suspected assailants, according to the police, were 17-year-old Palestinians from the West Bank city of Hebron.
At the time, the MDA said that it treated two people who were struck by the same car, first on Tchelet Mordechai Street and the nearby Yirmiyahu Street in the Romema neighbourhood.
A third person was also lightly hurt, said the police.
Israel has witnessed a wave of attacks amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza and the rise in tensions in the West Bank.
(With inputs from agencies)