Palestinian draws knife on police in Old City, is arrested
Suspect entered Israel illegally; no injuries reported in fourth attempted stabbing of the day
Israeli police officers arrested a Palestinian man in Jerusalem’s Old City Sunday in possession of a knife, in the fourth stabbing or attempted stabbing of the day.
The man aroused the suspicion on police while walking through the Muristan in the Christian Quarter. When he was asked to show identification, he drew the blade, a police spokesperson said.
No injuries were reported. The man’s identity wasn’t published, but police said he was a Palestinian from the Ramallah area who had entered Israel illegally. The suspect was taken in for questioning.
Earlier in the morning, a Palestinian woman attempted to stab an Israeli near the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Shomron, west of Nablus. She was apprehended, and no injuries were reported. Initial reports indicated the woman hailed from the neighboring Palestinian village of Azzun.
Meanwhile, another Palestinian woman was arrested at the entrance to Hebron’s Tomb of the Patriarchs in possession of a knife.
Earlier still, an Israeli soldier was stabbed and lightly injured outside Jerusalem’s central bus station, where large numbers of soldiers catch buses back to their bases after a Shabbat break at home.
A security guard who witnessed the stabbing fired at the Palestinian assailant, who surrendered to him and was then arrested, police said.
“A private security guard who saw the event overpowered the terrorist until police arrived at the scene. The terrorist is under arrest,” a police statement said.
Paramedics administered first aid to the victim, 21, who suffered a stab wound in his shoulder, and evacuated him to a hospital in the city, police and rescue services said. He was released several hours later.
AFP contributed to this report.