Vanderbilt U. Business Student Killed in Tel Aviv Terror Attack
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
A 29-year-old American business school student on a school trip to learn about Israeli tech was reportedly killed and as many as 10 people were wounded in stabbing attacks at the popular Jaffa waterfront in Tel Aviv.
The victim was identified as Taylor Force, a Texas native and student at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management, the college said. His wife was also gravely injured, Ynet reported.
Force and other Vanderbilt students had gone to Israel to explore the fast-growing technology sector.
“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,” said Vanderbilt Chancellor Nick Zeppos.
The trip was designed to focus on global entrepreneurship and exemplifies the growing focus of technology as a key component of Israel’s economic success.
Along with learning from the vaunted so-called start up nation of Isreali tech firms, Force was expected to “share his insights and knowledge with start-ups in Israel,” Zeppos said.
Force was a West Point graduate and a veteran artillery officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Tuesday evening attacks came less than two hours after terror attacks in Jerusalem and central Israel left a haredi Orthodox man and two Israeli Border Police officers seriously injured.
In the Jaffa attack, four of the injured are reported to be in serious condition and four others in moderate condition, according to Israel’s Channel 2. One victim died at the hospital. The dead man was identified by Israeli media as a tourist, though no other details were immediately released.
1 person murdered in Jaffa stabbing attack. 10 people taken to hospital being treated. Knife used by attacker found. pic.twitter.com/Cv3DG2ns36
— Micky Rosenfeld (@MickyRosenfeld) March 8, 2016
The attack took place along a boardwalk near a beach popular with tourists. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said four of the wounded had severely injuries.
“A terrorist, an illegal resident who came from somewhere in the Palestinian territories, came here to Jaffa and embarked on a run … along the boardwalk. On his way he indiscriminately stabbed people,” Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai told Army Radio.
Confirmation: American tourist murdered this evening in stabbing attack carried out by Palestinian terrorist in Jaffa.
— Micky Rosenfeld (@MickyRosenfeld) March 8, 2016
At the entrance to the Jaffa port, on its heavily trafficked promenade, the assailant stabbed two people before attacking others as he moved southward, including near the Dolphinarium Club on the border with Tel Aviv, according to reports.
Police said the assailant was “neutralized.”
With JTA and Reuters
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