Independence Eve terrorist car-ramming injures six in Jerusalem

Driving a car at speed, a terrorist crashed into crowds at Jerusalem’s bustling Mahane Yehuda market on Monday, April 24, who were shopping for food in preparation for the national festivals this week. Six people were injured, a man of 60 seriously, a woman of 30 moderately, before a passerby pulled a gun and shot the driver. The killer has been identified as a 39-year-old father of five resident of Jerusalem’s normally quiet Beit Safafa with no security background. Police and emergency services were on the scene of the attack within seconds.

Israel marks the Day of Remembrance for its fallen Monday night and Tuesday, followed the next day by Independence Day. Israel – and its capital in particular – are on high alert for terrorist violence which is prone to escalate sharply around the time of these national holidays. The police have doubled security at cemeteries and picnic spots in parks and woods and advised holders of sidearms licenses to keep them handy.