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Jerusalem: one American killed and 12 Israelis wounded after stabbing attack

A series of violent attacks happened on Tuesday close to the capital Tel Aviv as Palestinian assailants went on a shooting and stabbing rampage on Israelis. An American tourist was found dead during the aftermath of the stabbing spree that took place in the ancient Mediterranean port city of Jaffa.

Unfortunately, 12 other victims resulted injured due to the attackers’ shootings and bloodshed, including Israelis civilians and police officers. In addition, local police officers were forced to fight back as the shootings started in the Jewish state and three attackers were killed as a result.

A boy rides past blood stains where, according to Israeli police spokesperson, at least 10 Israelis were stabbed, in the popular Jaffa port area of Tel Aviv, Israel March 8, 2016. Credit: REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Once again, a violent attack takes place after the visit of a political figure as Vice President Joe Biden who was in a meeting with Israel’s former president, according to local officials. The Vice President was just a mile away from the incident that resulted in the death of a US tourist along with 12 other injured.

Biden had arrived for a brief visit as a part of a regional tour of the Mideast. Jerusalem has seen an incredible rise in a number of Palestinian attacks since October. There have been more than 200 Israelis and Palestinians dead since then.

The necessity for Tel Aviv to step up its security measures has been noticed as it has tightened all forces in order to re-establish order after the ‘mass stabbing’ occurred earlier on Tuesday.

Soaring violence rates in Jerusalem

According to government officials, the incident has been described as a ‘terror attack’ due to the viciousness of the rampage. A shocking YouTube video was released along with the updated news where a man is seeing running along the pavement lunging at cars. The man appearing in the YouTube video released by Mirror is suspected the one responsible for the killing of an American tourist.

“The terrorist who was young and wearing a hoodie, came from the Jaffa port area,” said a witness of the brutal events to Ynet news website. “Once he was on the boardwalk, he attacked a tourist couple. The woman was stabbed several times, tried to flee, and fell.”

The witness, identified as Yosef, also said how he ran towards the attacker as he was already stabbing the woman’s couple and struck the assailant with an aluminum pylon in the back. Fortunately for Yosef, the attacker tried to stab him as a last resource and then ran away, as Yosef turned to aid the wounded couple.

Although the attacks witnessed close to the capital Tel Aviv were not the only ones occurred on Tuesday, as East Jerusalem and Petah Tikva saw a violent day as well. Attackers injured eight people on a rampage using guns and knives to create mayhem, including local police officers.

Source: The Washington Post

Categories: World
Tags: Israel
Daniel Contreras:
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