Assailant tries to stab soldiers in West Bank, is shot dead

A would-be attacker was shot dead Friday afternoon as he tried to stab Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near a West Bank settlement.

There were no other injuries in the incident, at a checkpoint close to Beit El, in the Ramallah area.

Security forces were combing the area of the fence around Beit El in order to rule out an infiltration into the settlement.

An IDF spokesperson said the attempted attack was under investigation.

The incident came on the heels of a brutal hatchet attack on an Israeli security guard in the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim overnight. Police said that attack was terrorism, as doctors fought for the victim’s life at a Jerusalem hospital.

The 48-year-old security guard was attacked inside the town’s mall. He was struck multiple times in his upper body. The terrorist fled the scene.

A manhunt for the assailant was still under way late Friday.