Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Three Israelis killed, three injured in Ariel terrorist stabbing rampage - Anna Ahronheim

 

by Anna Ahronheim

Lone attacker identified as 18 year-old Muhammed Soof who worked as a cleaner in the Ariel industrial zone.

 

Medics remove the body of a man murdered in a stabbing attack earlier, outside Ariel, in the West Bank, on November 15, 2022. (photo credit: FLASH90)

Three Israelis were killed and four others injured in a serious terror rampage in the West Bank city of Ariel on Tuesday.

According to the military, three civilians were killed at the ‘Ten’ gas station in Ariel and a man in his 50s was killed after he suffered multi-system injuries in a car crash near the West Bank city of Ariel.

The attacks began around 9.28 in the morning when the 18 year old terrorist identified by Palestinian media as Muhammad Soof from the nearby village of Haris, who had a work permit to work as a cleaner in the Ariel Industrial zone came to the entrance to the gate with a knife in his hand.

He stabbed one of two civilian security guards, moderately wounding him. The second guard fired shots in the air as the terrorist ran some 60-70 meters toward the ‘Ten’ gas station where he stabbed three people, killed two civilians.


 

He then stole a car and drove onto Route 5 and crashed into a car, killing another civilian. The initial car that he stole was destroyed in the crash and a civilian who saw the crash exited his BMW to help the wounded Israeli, allowing the terrorist to steal his car and flee the scene.

Members of Israeli forces work at the scene of an attack, at the Ariel Industrial Zone, November 15, 2022. (credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD) Members of Israeli forces work at the scene of an attack, at the Ariel Industrial Zone, November 15, 2022. (credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)

With the stolen BMW he continued toward the Shomron Crossing checkpoint on Route 5 and did a U-turn when he got to the checkpoint, driving against traffic heading back to the scene of the crash. He then got out of the vehicle and tried to escape by foot. At this point, he was shot and killed by civilians, a soldier on furlough and an on-duty IDF soldier. 

A senior IDF officer told reporters that the whole event took about 20 minutes.

“This event could have ended in the industrial area,” he said, adding that “there was a single terrorist who succeeded with quite a bit of audacity.”

While it is believed that the terrorist acted alone, the officer said that security forces are checking to see if the individual who brought him to the gate of Ariel Industrial Zone knew of his intentions or if he just drove him to work like every other day.

According to MDA, EMTs and paramedics provided medical treatment to three people with stab wounds at the ‘Ten’ gas station, one man in his 40s in critical condition and one in his 40s in serious condition. 

The death of one of the men was determined at the scene.

MDA also treated two injured people on Highway 5, including a 35-year-old male who was stabbed in his upper body and was critically wounded. The death of the man in his 50s was declared at the scene. 

The three critically injured were transported to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tivka. According to the hospital, the man in his 40s is in very serious and unstable condition with a chest and head injury. A man in his 30s is serious but in stable condition with a chest injury and another man in his 30s is in serious but stable condition with a neck injury.

IDF troops are scanning the area to make sure that no additional attackers fled the scenes.

Following the attack, IDF troops raided the terrorist’s village and home. Defense Minister Benny Gantz also held a situational assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi and the head of the Shin Bet Ronen Bar.

Politicians' comments on the attack

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said in response to the attack: "This attack is a clear result of the lack of governance and the loss of deterrence of the leaving government. The incoming government must act as a national government, and flip the equation."

"The person who stands behind this wave of terror is the terrorist in a suit Abu-Mazen. The Israeli government must mark him as a security target. The Palestinian Authority is behind this wave of terror."

 

Prime minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on Twitter account: "I pray for the health of the injured people from the terror attack, and strengthen the security forces operating on the ground."

Prime Minister Yair Lapid commented on the attack on his Twitter account saying: "The citizens of Israel awakened today to a difficult and painful morning. A despicable terrorist has carried out a heinous terrorist attack in Ariel."

"On behalf of the Government and State of Israel, I send my condolences to the families of those murdered and my wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded. We are relentlessly fighting terrorism with the full might of the IDF, ISA, and all the security forces."

"Recently, we have succeeded in dismantling extensive terrorist infrastructure and planning, but we must fight this war every day anew. Our security forces are working around the clock to protect the citizens of Israel and target terrorist infrastructure anytime, anywhere."

 

 

Far-right Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir, who is demanding to be appointed Public Security minister, said that the incoming government “will do everything to eradicate terrorism and restore security to the citizens of Israel.”

Ben Gvir’s policies as public security minister would include changes to the rules of engagement for policemen and soldiers; immunity for policemen and soldiers for any actions taken against terrorists; reducing the rights of terrorists in jails; treating agricultural crime as terrorism and increasing punishment for criminal demands for “protection” from business owners; and allowing anyone with basic combat training to carry a weapon.

The attack comes as the military continues with its Operation Break the Wave against Palestinian terrorism and as the military has seen a decrease in the number of attacks and warnings.

“This event is a single event, and while it is not timed well, it comes against a backdrop of a calming from the escalation that we’ve seen since March,” the senior officer said. “We will do everything necessary to make sure that this attack does not inspire others.”

It began in April after 20 people were killed in Israel during terror attacks. Since then, another 12 civilians have been killed, along with four security forces. Numerous others have been injured.

The focus of the military has been in the northern West Bank, where 70-75% of warnings regarding future attacks originate. Though several attacks have occurred in the south, they remain few.

Over 2,000 Palestinians have been arrested by security forces during nightly raids and over 130 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops or while carrying out attacks against Israelis.

This is a developing story

 

Anna Ahronheim

Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-722422

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