2 Israeli Police Officers Injured In Palestinian Stabbing Attack

Image by getty images

By Marcy Oster March 13, 2017

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Two Israeli Border Police officers were injured in a stabbing attack in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The officers were stabbed by an alleged Palestinian assailant overnight on Sunday at their post near the Lions Gate. A third officer reportedly shot and killed the man, identified by the Palestinian Maan news agency as Ibrahim Mahmoud Matar, 25, a resident of the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal al-Mukabar.

Israel police said Matar was taken into the post by police to search him after he was stopped at the Lion’s Gate before entering the Old City. He then took out the knife and attacked the officers, according to police. Palestinian witnesses told Maan that Matar was carrying a stick and was taken out of the post by a police officer and shot at point blank.

Early Sunday morning, police raided Matar’s eastern Jerusalem home, arresting four members of his family, identified by Maan as his brother, parents, and uncle.

פיגוע הדקירה בירושלים: כוחות משטרה פשטו על בית המחבל בשכונת ג’בל מוכאבר ועצרו 4 מבני משפחתו. בווידאו: מפקד מרחב דוד מתאר את רגעי הפיגוע pic.twitter.com/RpGXINoTXG

— משטרת ישראל (@IL_police) March 13, 2017

A flag with the terrorist group Hamas’ logo was removed from the home, according to the Times of Israel.

Jerusalem is under increased security Sunday and Monday due to the Purim holiday, which is observed a day later than in the rest of the country.

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