Border Police officer seriously hurt in suspected ramming at West Bank crossing

Cops open fire at Palestinian suspect, moderately injuring him, and arrest him after he strikes officer operating near Qalandiya checkpoint

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

The scene of a car ramming attack near the Qalandiya checkpoint on October 8, 2021. (Border Police)
The scene of a car ramming attack near the Qalandiya checkpoint on October 8, 2021. (Border Police)

A Border Police officer was seriously injured in an apparent car ramming near the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem shortly after midnight Thursday, a law enforcement spokesperson said.

The 20-year-old officer was taken to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical with moderate injuries, but his condition deteriorated overnight to serious but stable, the hospital said.

“He was fully conscious and suffered from injuries to his head and abdomen,” a Magen David Adom ambulance service medic said.

Police said the ramming occurred while troops were working to move illegal structures built in an area near the West Bank crossing.

After the suspect rammed into the officer, troops opened fire at his vehicle, causing him to crash into a wall, Border Police said.

The suspect, a 22-year-old resident of Qalqilya, sustained a moderate head wound and was taken to Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem for treatment, a hospital spokesperson said.

He was placed under arrest at the scene of the ramming and transferred to the custody of the Shin Bet security service for questioning.

Judah Ari Gross contributed to this report.

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