Border Police Officer Killed, Two Wounded in Old City Attack

YERUSHALAYIM
Israeli policemen stand next to blood stains at the scene where three Palestinians, who were shot dead by Israeli police after carrying out what Israeli police spokesman said was a shooting and stabbing attack outside Damascus gate to Jerusalem's old city February 3, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Israeli policemen stand at the scene where three Palestinians carried out a shooting and stabbing attack outside the Damascus Gate, Wednesday. (Reuters/Ammar Awad)

Hadar Cohen, 19, Hy”d, who began her service as a Border Policewoman just two months ago, was killed Wednesday in a shooting and stabbing attack near the Damascus Gate in the Old City of Yerushalayim, Wednesday afternoon. The terrorists were eliminated, security officials said.

Another Border Police officer was seriously wounded. A third person, a civilian, 20 years old, sustained light injuries. Medical crews treated the critically injured soldier at the scene of the incident. The two more seriously wounded soldiers were then evacuated to Hadassah Har Hatzofim Hospital where one ultimately succumbed to her wounds.

Quick thinking by security personnel prevented what could have been a far worse tragedy, security officials said. The three terrorists involved in the attack were carrying not only knives, but guns as well. Security officials who were on patrol demanded that they stop for a search after three people aroused their suspicion near the Damascus Gate of the Old City.

As they began checking their ID cards, one of the terrorists pulled out a rifle and began shooting, hitting two soldiers. Security personnel on the scene immediately opened fire and eliminated them. Police also found several explosive devices in the backpacks of the terrorists, they said in a statement.

Police closed off the area around the Damascus Gate out of fear that the terrorists had planted explosives in the area. After a thorough search, the area was reopened. Police reported that the terrorists were from the Jenin area and had entered Yerushalayim illegally.

The Damascus Gate has seen several attacks recently. Terrorists on Motzoei Shabbos stabbed a 17-year-old youth outside the Damascus Gate. The victim suffered light injuries. Police said that the victim was one of two Jewish youths who had been returning from davening at the Kosel via the Damascus Gate. They were confronted and attacked by two Arab minors. The attackers managed to stab one of the two Jews in the back; the second escaped into the Old City and ran to the police station adjacent to the Damascus Gate to call for help. One of the two teenage terrorists who committed the terror act was captured later that night. The second turned himself in to police the next day.

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