Israel: Two people killed, six injured

At least six people were injured by shooting Sunday morning by an attacker who opened fire at a tram station in East Jerusalem. The aggressor was killed by police, according to officials of law enforcement and medical responsible quoted by Reuters, while AFP speaks of four injured AFP, citing the Israeli rescue services.

According to the police, 'a terrorist' circulating in a vehicle near the police headquarters in East Jerusalem opened fire on the passersby. The attacker was then removed from the vehicle toward a Palestinian neighborhood, where he was intercepted by police on motorcycle, who managed to neutralize him, indicates the same source. One police officer was shot by the attacker.

Two women are in critical condition and a third person suffered lighter injuries, revealed the rescue services quoted by AFP. According to Reuters, at least two people - a policeman and a pass – are in a critical condition. The police identified the attacker as a 39 year old Palestinian from East Jerusalem. He possessed an Israeli identification card, according to Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan. “There were no prior warnings ahead of a focused attack like this,” Erdan also said.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who had been on a tour of the West Bank at the time of the shooting, rushed back to the capital to visit the scene of the attack, as did Erdan and Israel Police Chief Roni Alsheich. The Hamas terrorist organization praised the shooting, calling it “heroic”, “brave” and a “natural response to the occupation,” Army Radio reported.

The violence that have been produced since early October 2015 in the Palestinian territories, Israel, Jerusalem, have cost the lives of 232 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to a report compiled by AFP.