One person was killed in a terror attack that occurred at a shopping center in the city of Karmiel in Israel's north on Wednesday, Hebrew media reported.
Sergeant (Sgt.) Aleksandr Iakiminskyi, 19, from Nahariya, a driver in the 71st Battalion, 188th Brigade, was killed in the stabbing attack in Karmiel, the IDF announced. The other individual who was severely wounded was a soldier from the same battalion and brigade.
Eyewitnesses said that the terrorist stabbed one of the young men, severely wounding him. His friend, who was the one who died, was armed and had time to disarm the assailant and shoot him. In the process, however, he was also stabbed, according to Walla.
The deputy director of the Karmiel municipality security department, who arrived with his team at the scene said, "It's a very difficult scene. People are very upset. We secured the area to allow for the treatment of the wounded and to calm the crowd, and we remain on site to assist in whatever is needed by the security forces."
Earlier on Wednesday, Israel's emergency medical response service, Magen David Adom (MDA), reported that two people had been wounded as a result of a stabbing attack.
MDA noted that one individual in his twenties was unconscious and in critical condition, adding that medics had performed CPR on him.
An additional individual in his twenties sustained serious wounds. Both were transferred to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.
The attacker was from an Arab village near Karmiel
Police reported that the terrorist had been killed, and the chief of the Israel Police Northern District noted that one of the wounded individuals shot at the terrorist and thwarted him. A suspect was later arrested for the attack, identified as Javad Rabia, 21, from Kfar Nahaf near Karmiel.
The attacker's sister was in the building during the incident, and it is suspected that she spoke to him on the phone before the attack. In addition to the sister, the police have already arrested most of the family members, including the father and mother. Shin Bet forces are looking into destroying their house.
The police further stated that forces were at the scene and had begun collecting findings, operating to determine the terrorist's identity, and eliminating possibilities that the terrorist had received assistance.
MDA paramedic Ran Moskowitz recounted what he saw upon arrival at the scene.
"When I arrived at the shopping mall, I was sent to the second floor. I saw two casualties, males in their 20s, lying close to the stalls with penetrating wounds. One was unconscious," Moskowitz said. "We placed them in the MICU while providing medical treatment, with one in critical condition and the other conscious and in serious condition."
United Hatzalah paramedic Arik Barel said, "I quickly arrived at the scene on my ambucycle, and we performed CPR on a young man in his 20s. We also provided medical assistance to another man who sustained moderate to serious wounds. Both were transported to the Galilee Medical Center."