Monday, November 10, 2014

10-Nov-14: Stabbing attack by terrorist at entrance to Tel Aviv train station

Security personnel at the scene of this afternoon's terror attack [Image Source]
From Times of Israel whose reporter pieced this together well from multiple sources:
An IDF soldier, about 20 years of age, was critically wounded after being stabbed multiple times in a terror attack at Tel Aviv’s Hahagana train station on Monday afternoon...  The spokesman for Magen David Adom [Israel's main ambulance service] said the victim was unconscious and was found by paramedics without a pulse, and received first aid at the scene... Police confirmed the attack was a politically motivated terrorist attack. A 50-year-old man who confronted the terrorist was lightly injured in the scuffle, and received medical treatment at the scene, Channel 2 reported. The attacker was in police custody, Israel Radio reported. Initial reports identified the suspect as an 18-year-old Palestinian man from Nablus who had illegally entered Israeli territory. Channel 2 named the stabber as Nur al-Din Abu Khashiyeh. Police were interrogating the man and had forwarded his identity to the Shin Bet security agency. An eyewitness to the attack said the victim was wearing an air force uniform. Hamdi asked the public to be alert and report any Palestinians residing illegally in Israel to the authorities. The terrorist tried unsuccessfully to grab the soldier’s gun after stabbing him repeatedly in the leg, Israel Radio reported. Eyewitnesses identified the attacker as wearing a red shirt and jeans, and said he fled west in the direction of the Tel Aviv central bus station. Police arrested the man, who hid on the fourth floor of a building near the scene of the crime, Israel Radio reported.
We're hearing that the victim, still un-named at this hour, is hospitalized at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center better known to Israelis by its historical name, Ichilov. He is in surgery as we write this, and in critical condition, fighting for his life. Israel National News says he was "stabbed numerous times, including in the upper body and waist, as he tried to fight off his attacker". One source says the Hebrew name (traditionally a name that includes the mother's name) of a terror victim in great need of prayer support is Almog Asa'el Ben Michal.

As for the people behind the attack:
Hamas did not claim responsibility for the stabbing, but the Hamas television network praised the attack. [Yisrael Hayom, today]
The knife left behind by
the attacker today [Image Source]
There's a photo of a man alleged to be today's attacker here, in which he is displaying what is said to be a Hamas flag. At this stage, we're reluctant to display the photo itself.

Ynet adds
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich arrived at the scene. He was given a cold reception by the locals who screamed "Where is the security?" and "Death to terrorists!" as he passed by.
The very recent context for today's attack is clear to Israelis:
In yet another stabbing attack this past Saturday night in the Galilee town of Kafr Kanna, north of Nazareth (reported here), an Arab man armed with a knife lunged at police who were inside a police vehicle and tried to stab them. The officers shot him dead.

UPDATE Monday November 10, 2014 at 9:30 pm: Sadly, the most seriously injured of the Tel Aviv stabbing victims succumbed to his injuries and died [says Jerusalem Post] tonight. His name was not cleared for publication for some hours. We now know he is Almog Shilony, 20, from Modi'in [source]. And we also know that a Hamas spokesperson, Husam Badran, speaking from the comfort of his luxurious exile in Doha, Qatar, "said the attack was an indication of the determination of the Palestinian people". And by the way: We mentioned Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center above; that happens to be where the murdering terrorist is currently receiving medical care. There's a photo of him in a hospital bed there, courtesy of a Twitterer here,

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