14 Injured in Terror Attack at Entrance to Yerushalayim

An Israeli policeman stands next to the scene where a motorist rammed into a bus stop, injuring at least nine people before he was shot dead, according to Israeli police, in Jerusalem December 14, 2015. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
An Israeli policeman stands next to the scene where an Arab motorist rammed into a bus stop, injuring eleven people before he was shot dead, in Yerushalayim, Monday afternoon. (Reuters/Ammar Awad)

An Arab car-ramming attack at the western entrance to Yerushalayim, near the Chords Bridge, on Monday afternoon, caused multiple injuries.

According to the Israeli Police, an Arab driver driving a private car on Sderot Herzl, drove on to the sidewalk near a bus stop, injuring numerous civilians waiting at the stop.

A total of fourteen people were injured in the attack, including a 15-month-old baby.

Six of the victims were taken to Shaare Zedek Hospital. Four are reported to be lightly injured, a woman in her 60’s is in moderate condition, and the baby is in critical condition. The baby was later transferred to Hadasah Ein Kerem Hospital, where his foot was amputated, rachmana letzlan. He is on a respirator. The public is asked to daven for Yotam Shmuel ben Yael, b’soch sh’ar cholei Yisrael.

Security personnel at the scene of the car ramming attack in Yerushalayim, (car is seen in background) Monday afternoon. (Kvutzat Medabrim Tikshoret)
Security personnel at the scene of the car ramming attack in Yerushalayim, (car is seen in background) Monday afternoon. (Kvutzat Medabrim Tikshoret)

Five others were taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, all with light injuries.

The terrorist driver was shot and killed by a bus stop guard. An axe was found in his car, which, b’chasdei Shamayim, he did not have the opportunity to use, preventing a potentially far worse outcome.

Police later identified the terrorist as Abed Almohsin Hassoneh, 21, from the east Yerushalayim neighborhood of Beit Hanina.

Following the attack, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised the citizens and security forces who have helped stop terror attacks, saying that their acts have saved lives in this recent terror wave.

“We are facing a new kind of terror, that of individuals,” he told the Likud faction. “This presents a challenge not only to us but the entire world. I have no doubt that we will overcome [the challenge].”

(Kvutzat Medabrim Tikshoret)
The Arab driver hit a fire hydrant, causing a geyser of water to burst out. (Kvutzat Medabrim Tikshoret)

Later, on Monday night, Yerushalayim Mayor Nir Barkat met with Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz to work on his proposal to increase security at hundreds of bus stops throughout the capital that are considered to be at high risk for terror attacks. The security upgrade, to be implemented over a month’s time, will cost about 2 million shekels.

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