Border guards foil stabbing attack in West Bank — police

Security forces on Tuesday foiled an attempted stabbing at a West Bank junction, when they opened fire on two Palestinians who attacked them, police said.

The would-be assailants approached border guards at the Tapuah Junction, police said in a statement.

Officers opened fire and “neutralized” the attackers, police said.

A spokesman for the Samaria Regional Council said the two, both 16-years-old, from the West Bank city of Jenin, suffered leg injuries and were evacuated to a hospital.

There were no injuries to security forces.

Two injured Palestinians, on the ground, after being shot during an attempted stabbing attack at the Tapuah Junction in the West Bank, January 23, 2018. (Samaria Regional Council)

“A short time ago, a border police officer at an observation point at the Tapuah junction spotted two Palestinian suspects approaching one of the bus stations at the junction,” a Border Police statement said. “The officer at the lookout point updated the forces stationed at the bus station accordingly. The soldiers asked the suspects to halt but when they refused to do so, the soldiers fired in the air.

“At that point, one of the suspects drew a knife and rushed at he soldiers,” the statement continued. “The forces responded with fire at the legs of the assailants, neutralizing them both. Both received first aid at the scene and were evacuated to a hospital for further treatment.”

The Tapuah Junction has been a site of frequent stabbing attacks in recent years.