More details have unfolded following the terror attack in northern Israel earlier today
By Sammy,
More details have unfolded following the terror attack in northern Israel earlier today, which authorities say was a multi-stage ramming and stabbing spree that began in the Beit She'an area and ended near Afula. Two people were killed and at least two others were injured.
Israeli media identify the terrorist as Ahmad Abu al-Rub, 37, from the northern West Bank town of Qabatiya. The IDF says a preliminary investigation indicates he infiltrated Israel illegally several days ago and had been working inside Israel without permits for an unknown period.
According to police and Israeli media, the terrorist first rammed 68-year-old Mordechai Shimshon of Beit She'an, killing him, then continued westward on Route 71 and stopped near a bus stop, where he fatally stabbed 19-year-old Aviv Maor from Kibbutz Ein Harod, apparently while she was trying to hitchhike. He also injured two additional people before fleeing toward Afula, where he was shot by an armed civilian passerby near Maonot Junction and taken to hospital in moderate condition.
The IDF says forces were dispatched to the scenes as the attack unfolded, while commanders carried out situational assessments. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is now holding an assessment with senior commanders and other security officials, and additional troops are reinforcing the seam line. Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to act "forcefully and immediately" against Qabatiya, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on Israelis to arm themselves, saying the attack proved that "weapons save lives," and renewed his push for legislation imposing the death penalty on terrorists.
Topics: IDF
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.