1 Dead, Twelve Injured in Stabbing Spree at Jaffa Port

One person was killed and twelve others injured in a terrorist stabbing spree at the Jaffa Port, south of Tel Aviv, on Tuesday evening.

The deceased was identified as Taylor Force, a U.S. citizen, who was a student at the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. He was on an Owen School trip to Tel Aviv.

The twelve injured victims were reported in conditions ranging from serious to moderate to light.

The suspected terrorist stabbed two people at the entrance to the port in Jaffa and then continued southward toward Tel Aviv, stabbing more victims, according to a local media report.

The attacker was confronted there by police who shot and killed him. Security forces closed off the area to civilian traffic while they searched for a possible accomplice.

On Tuesday afternoon, Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos posted a message to the university’s students, faculty and staff, on the university’s website.

“Taylor embarked on this trip to expand his understanding of global entrepreneurship and also to share his insights and knowledge with start-ups in Israel,” wrote Zeppos. “He exemplified the spirit of discovery, learning and service that is the hallmark of our wonderful Owen community. This horrific act of violence has robbed our Vanderbilt family of a young hopeful life and all of the bright promise that he held for bettering our greater world.

“Taylor’s family and his friends and colleagues have our deepest sympathy and utmost support.”

Zeppos wrote that “all other Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff on the trip are safe.”

The attack was the third of the day in Israel, following a stabbing in Petach Tikva and a shooting in Yerushalayim, in which four people were hurt altogether, one critically.