Palestinian arrested for stabbing of 2 officers in Jerusalem

IDF troops arrested a Palestinian man overnight Thursday-Friday on suspicion that he was behind the stabbing of two Border Police officers last Friday in Jerusalem’s Old City.

The army said Mohammed al-Ajlouni, an East Jerusalem resident, was caught during a raid on a house in the West Bank city of Ramallah to which he had escaped after the attack.

Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers were lightly hurt during the capture, Israel Radio reported.

The Palestinian news agency Shehab published photos it claims were of the house that was raided by the IDF.

Last Friday morning, two Border Police officers were lightly hurt in a stabbing attack at Lions Gate in the Old City. One of the officers, 19 years old, was stabbed in the neck while the other officer, 35, was stabbed in the hand as he struggled with the assailant.

The incident has somewhat embarrassed the police, as a video that emerged of the scene showed the policemen’s sluggish response to the attack.

The footage shows the attacker running up behind the two officers as they stood in a doorway. He starts swinging his knife at the policemen. One of the officers pushes the assailant back, while the other pulls out his club. The policeman manages to swing at the assailant, who briefly runs up a side alley. He returns to struggle with the first officer, and they swing at each other while disappearing down another side street, with the second officer in chase. The video ends with the attacker, dressed in a striped sweater, fleeing down the street.

The attacker managed to escape, as security forces conducted a search in the area.

The incident occurred as worshipers were leaving the Temple Mount complex after morning prayers.

Lions Gate, which leads into the Muslim Quarter, marks the beginning of the Via Dolorosa, the path which, according to Christian tradition, Jesus took on his way from prison to crucifixion.