Soldier shoots in air during terror scare on Haifa train
Several soldiers scream ‘terrorist!’ at suspicious-looking person, prompting IDF officer to fire one bullet in the air; police rule incident false alarm
An Israeli soldier shot his weapon in the air aboard a passenger train near the port city of Haifa Thursday morning after troops thought they spotted a man with a knife in the carriage.
Five people were treated for light injuries as the train was evacuated amid a minor panic, but the incident was ruled to be a false alarm, police said.
According to Israel Police, several female soldiers who were traveling on the train saw a person who looked suspicious to them and began shouting “terrorist!”
An IDF officer sitting in the front of the carriage cocked his gun and fired one bullet in the air.
The train continued on its track until it reached the Paz Bridge in the city and then stopped, using its emergency brakes.
Police officers from the Haifa District searched the carriage and the area near the train but within minutes announced the incident a false alarm.
Five people suffered scuffs and bruises as the train emptied out during the scare. Three other people were treated for shock.
מתח שיא: תנועת הרכבות בחיפה הופסקה מחשש לאירוע ביטחוני http://t.co/pzW3Jb2UcJ pic.twitter.com/YedLjlutDb
— החדשות – N12 (@N12News) October 15, 2015
Israelis have been on edge as the country has suffered a spate of stabbings and other terror attacks over the last two weeks.
Police have beefed up their presence around the country and troops have also been called in to bolster security forces in some Israeli cities.
A number of false alarms have led to minor panics, including aboard the light rail in central Jerusalem earlier in the week after a woman yelled “terrorist.”
The Times of Israel Community.