Security forces foil car-ramming attack at West Bank checkpoint

Security forces prevented a car-ramming attack Friday at the Qalandiya checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Israel Police said.

A Palestinian driver, 30, attempted to ram police officers and soldiers manning the vehicle lanes, but was fired upon by one of the guards.

“A Palestinian terrorist… drove at speed toward police and soldiers in an attempt to ram them,” a police statement said.

Attempting to avoid the gunfire, the attacker swerved into a concrete block. He then stepped out of the car and attempted to rush the guards, who shot him in the leg.

The attacker, who was identified only as a resident of the village of Turmusaya in the northern West Bank, was placed under arrest.

No member of the security services was hurt in the attack. The Palestinian attacker was lightly wounded. Medics from the Magen David Adom rescue service were treating him on site.

IDF forces arrested eight terror suspects throughout the West Bank overnight Thursday, five of them identified by the army as Hamas operatives.

The handgun found by IDF troops hidden inside a car tire at a roadblock east of the Etzion settlement bloc, south of Jerusalem, on December 18, 2015. (Israel Police)

Troops also found a handgun hidden inside a car tire at a roadblock east of the Etzion Bloc, south of Jerusalem.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.