Bomb thrown at border police at Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, no injuries

An improvised explosive device was thrown at police guarding the entrance of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron Tuesday night, police said.

The attacker fled the scene after throwing the bomb at border guards manning a station just outside the tomb. The device did not explode and there were no injuries.

Police said they were searching the area for the perpetrator and had opened an investigation in the incident.

Earlier this month, sappers detonated a similar improvised explosive device found near the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

That device, containing two small gas canisters, was blown up in a controlled explosion by the police bomb squad.

The device was found near one of the entrances used only by Muslims, and the area remained closed for over an hour until the device was neutralized.

“In the area of the tomb, there is unique coexistence that the security forces, including border police, protect with the goal of allowing freedom of worship and religion to both Jews and Muslims at the Tomb of the Patriarchs,” police said in a statement after the incident.

“The soldiers will continue to work with determination and professionalism to protect the security of all the citizens, residents and visitors to the site,” it said.