Palestinian suspected of stabbing 2 policemen in Jerusalem arrested in pre-dawn raid
Suspect fled to Ramallah post-stabbing, taking refuge in house for a week, Palestinian media says.
By JPOST.COM STAFFIsraeli police officers stand guard on the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem's Old City(photo credit: REUTERS)
Police forces arrested a Palestinian man on Friday suspected of last week's stabbing incident in Jerusalem's Old City which left two Border Police officers lightly injured.The man was found in a house in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where he took refuge for the past week, Palestinian media reported.The Shin Bet, Israel's security agency, provided police forces with intelligence information and guided them to the suspect's hiding spot. The force extracted the suspect from Ramallah and transferred him to Jerusalem for further investigation.Riots broke out between Palestinians and IDF forces on the scene following the suspect's extraction, Palestinians said, but quiet was shortly restored.The two border officers were lightly wounded on December 26 when an unidentified Arab man stabbed them in the capital's Old City. The unprovoked attack came as thousands of Muslims exited the area upon concluding prayers at al-Aksa Mosque.Micky Rosenfeld, Israel Police spokesman, said the attack took place near the Lion’s Gate at approximately 6:30 a.m., when the assailant used a knife to stab the first officer, 19, in the neck, and the second officer, 35, in the arm.Undercover and regular police units searched the area for the suspect, and police reviewed surveillance footage in pursuit of the suspect.The assault followed months of ongoing tensions between Muslims and Jews throughout the capital, which has necessitated emergency police measures, including 1,000 extra police officers, aerial reconnaissance balloons and a municipal patrol.Despite last week's attack, rioting and violence in the city has largely leveled off over the past several weeks.
