Jerusalem terror attack: Seven wounded in car ramming, terrorist killed

Seven people were wounded as a result of a car-ramming terrorist attack in the heart of Jerusalem on Monday.

The victims include a man in his 70s who is in serious condition, a woman in her 30s in moderate condition, and a man in his 50s and two 25-year-old men who are only lightly wounded.

All victims have been hospitalized at Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah-University Medical Center.

According to a Hadassah spokesperson, one of the victims was hospitalized due to shock.

The terrorist was identified as Hatem Abu Nijmeh, a 39-year-old resident of Beit Safafa in east Jerusalem, was shot and killed by a civilian who was at the scene. He was a married father of five who was unknown to security forces but has a history of mental illness. 

Terror in the heart of Jerusalem

The terror attack occurred in the area of Davidka Square, between Kiah and Agrippas and a block away from the Mahane Yehuda market.

According to police, Nijmeh arrived at an intersection and sped up, deliberatley hitting pedestrians, including people crossing the street. He then slowed down while reversing and came to a stop, at which point a nearby armed civilian shot and killed him.

Minutes after the attack, security forces, off-duty soldiers, police and train security officers rushed from as many as two blocks away to the scene of the attack. A crowd formed around the area, with Israelis and tourists observing the scene. At times, they had to be shepherded aside to allow the evacuation of victims.

Witnesses at the scene reported hearing gunshots.

“I heard shots and told emergency services where I heard them. I didn’t want to believe it was a terrorist attack.”

Bystander

“I heard shots and told emergency services where I heard them. I didn’t want to believe it was a terrorist attack,” said one bystander who heard about five shots.

“This won’t end unless we do more mitzvot and bring about the Messiah.”

One man said that it was expected that such an attack would happen before Israel’s Remembrance Day, and said that Arab media would likely portray the terrorist as an innocent victim.

“I was going to the market to buy flags and meat,” said a man. He had gone first to buy rice for his father, a decision he said changed his route, and he attributed that to save his life.

A security guard for the nearby parking lot said that at first, he thought it sounded like a car crash, but heard shots when he went to see what happened.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Jerusalem minutes after the attack took place, said that the ramming “reminds us that the State of Israel was bought with great suffering.

“These terror attacks are carried out with the expectation that they will uproot us from here, if they could they would murder us all.”

Benjamin Netanyahu

“These terror attacks are carried out with the expectation that they will uproot us from here, if they could they would murder us all,” the prime minister said.

Later, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who did not come to the scene, spoke on the phone with the civilian who killed the terrorist.

“I wanted to congratulate you,” Ben-Gvir said, adding that his actions saved many lives.

“The State of Israel thanks you for preventing a very big disaster,” the minister said, adding that when he asked for the National Security Ministry’s Firearms Division to make getting access to guns easier for anyone who is qualified, it is for the goal of helping people defend themselves.

Hours after the attack, a small group of men and teenagers raised Israeli flags and a cardboard sign with “vengeance” scrawled on it.

“We want vengeance!” Chanted the group. “Ben-Gvir, go home!”

When asked what was meant by the second chant, one of the men explained that Ben-Gvir “doesn’t do anything.”

As a result of the terrorist attack, light rail service has stopped from the Davidka station to Damascus Gate. Further, the Jerusalem District Police will increase patrols and security activity throughout the city.

This is a developing story.

JPost