Terrorist tackled by Jerusalem mayor says he ‘hates religious Jews’
Suspect confesses to throwing firebombs and rocks at security forces.
By DANIEL K. EISENBUDStabbing in Jerusalem, February 22, 2015.(photo credit: ZAKA RESCUE AND RECOVERY ORGANIZATION)
The Arab terrorist who made international headlines last month after being tackled by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat near city hall was ordered remanded for five more days by a judge on Thursday after confessing to participating in previous attacks and “hating religious Jews.”On February 22, the 18-year-old suspect from Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah, stabbed a haredi man in the stomach in Tzahal Square and then attempted to attack other pedestrians before Barkat and his security team detained him.Barkat, who was traveling in his SUV, said he saw the attack taking place and immediately ordered his driver to pull over. Moments later, a member of his security detail drew a pistol and the terrorist dropped the knife, at which point video shows Barkat tackling him to the ground.The victim was subsequently rushed by ambulance to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.According to court records, the unidentified suspect confessed to Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) interrogators that he stabbed the haredi man because he “hates religious Jews,” and later confessed to participating in numerous other firebomb and rock attacks on Israeli security forces.An indictment is expected in the coming days.
