An attempted stabbing attack was thwarted near the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem on Wednesday afternoon, after a terrorist who attempted to stab a police officer was shot.
فيديو| مصادر صحفية: "الاحتلال يطلق النار صوب شاب بزعم محاولته تنفيذ عــمــــلـــية طــعـــن عند باب القطانين داخل البلدة القديمة في القدس".#فلسطين pic.twitter.com/eK3ByjikVZ
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) May 11, 2022
According to police, a suspect arrived at the Cotton Merchants' Gate of the Temple Mount and ran at soldiers while shouting "Allahu Akbar" and moving his hands in stabbing and assault motions. Police officers responded with fire and neutralized the suspect. No Israeli forces were injured.
The suspect was a Palestinian resident of the West Bank. The suspect received initial treatment at the scene and was transferred for further treatment in critical condition. An investigation into the incident is being conducted. Police did not state if the Palestinian was armed.
Police officers entered the Temple Mount shortly after the attempted attack and clashed with Arab worshippers at the site.
قوات الاحتلال تلاحق عدداً من الشبان في المسجد الأقصى تزامناً مع إغلاق أبوابه ومحاصرة المصلين داخله pic.twitter.com/ZvL9DnF30L
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) May 11, 2022
The attempted terrorist attack comes just days after a stabbing attack injured a Border Police officer at the Damascus Gate of the Old City and an attempted terrorist attack in Tekoa was thwarted by a resident who shot a Palestinian armed with a knife who was trying to jump over the fence of his home.
The attempted attack also comes just hours after Al-Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed during armed clashes between Palestinians and IDF troops in Jenin. Abu Akleh was a resident of the Beit Hanina neighborhood of east Jerusalem.
A protest march was carried out by Arab residents of east Jerusalem near Abu Akleh's home on Wednesday afternoon.
قوات الاحتلال تقمع المشاركين في المسيرة المنددة باستهداف الصحفية الراحلة شيرين أبو عاقلة في بيت حنينا شمال القدس pic.twitter.com/A9y7RFrdw8
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) May 11, 2022
Police stated that they were working to maintain the peace after riots broke out during the march, with rioters throwing stones and bottles, blocking roads and clashing with police. Nine suspects were arrested amid the riots. Rioters also placed Palestinian flags on police cars. Three police officers were lightly wounded.
"Israel Police will continue to act with determination and zero tolerance for violence of any kind, violation of the public order and attempts to harm police officers or civilians in violation of the law," said police.