7 killed, several hurt in shooting attack at Jerusalem synagogue; terrorist shot - The Times of Israel

Seven radical were changeable and killed and respective much wounded successful a panic shooting onslaught astatine a synagogue successful Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood, constabulary and medics said Friday night.

According to police, the violent arrived by car astatine astir 8:15 p.m. astatine a gathering utilized arsenic a synagogue successful the vicinity successful the bluish portion of East Jerusalem and opened fire.

The attacker past fled the country toward the Palestinian vicinity of Beit Hanina — respective 100 meters distant — wherever helium encountered officers who were called to the scene.

Police said the violent — a nonmigratory of East Jerusalem — was changeable dormant aft helium opened occurrence connected the officers portion trying to flight connected foot.

A handgun utilized successful the onslaught was seized.

According to Channel 12 news, the violent archetypal changeable an aged pistillate successful the street, past encountered a motorcycle rider and changeable him, earlier reaching the synagogue and opening occurrence astatine radical outside. Police did not instantly corroborate the details.

Speaking to reporters from the scene, constabulary commissioner Kobi Shabtai said the onslaught was 1 of the worst Israel had seen successful years.

“The violent changeable astatine everyone helium encountered. He got retired of the car and began a murderous rampage with a handgun,” Shabtai said.

The Magen David Adom ambulance work said its medics declared 5 victims dormant astatine the scene.

Three victims — a pistillate successful her 70s listed successful captious condition, a 20-year-old antheral successful superior information and a 14-year-old lad successful moderate-serious information — were taken to the Hadassah Mount Scopus hospital. Another 2 victims — a antheral successful his 30s successful captious information and a pistillate successful her 60s successful mean information — were taken to the Shaare Zedek hospital.

Jerusalem District Police Commander Doron Turgeman, speaking to reporters astatine the scene, said 2 of the wounded victims had died, bringing the decease toll to seven.

Turgeman said the violent had acted alone.

The victims were not instantly named.

Dozens of officers were dispatched to the scene, constabulary said.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who is successful complaint of police, arrived astatine the country of the attack. Citizens astatine the country shouted assorted comments astatine the minister, immoderate successful enactment for retribution, immoderate successful anger. Some called retired “Death to terrorists.”

“It’s connected your watch!” 1 antheral cried. “Let’s spot what you bash now.”

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who was successful the United States for a idiosyncratic trip, was to caput backmost to Israel connected Friday nighttime pursuing the attack, his bureau said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an appraisal with apical information officials, earlier heading to the country of the attack.

Local residents told Channel 12 quality that it took 20 minutes for the constabulary to arrive. “It’s a disgrace,” 1 antheral said.

Police responded to the accusation by saying their records showed officers had arrived astatine the country and killed the violent wrong 5 minutes of the archetypal reports of gunfire.

The violent was named arsenic Alqam Khayri, 21, a nonmigratory of East Jerusalem with nary anterior terror-related offenses, Hebrew-language media reports said.

تصحيح

اسم منفذ العملية خيري علقم (و ليس العكس) 21 عاما من القدس pic.twitter.com/Bn5OJGqlrx

— يونس الزعتري #عين_على_العدو (@YounesZaatari) January 27, 2023

Palestinian media reported that celebrations were being held successful the Gaza Strip and successful respective Palestinian cities successful the West Bank pursuing the deadly attack.

تغطية صحفية: "#صورة من الاحتفالات في مدينة نابلس بعد عملية القدس" pic.twitter.com/pkWebQ2as7

— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) January 27, 2023

Friday’s deadly onslaught came pursuing days of unit successful the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Tensions person accrued dramatically since Thursday morning, erstwhile an Israel Defense Forces raid successful the West Bank against a violent compartment near 9 Palestinians dormant — astir of them gunmen and members of the cell, though astatine slightest 1 civilian was besides killed.

Thursday overnight saw rocket fire from Palestinian panic groups successful Gaza and Israeli retaliatory aerial strikes arsenic some sides appeared intent connected avoiding an escalation into a full-scale war.

Tensions were besides precocious successful Jerusalem and the Temple Mount connected Friday, though Muslim prayers went up without issue.