Seven people were shot and killed and at least three others were wounded in a terror shooting attack at a synagogue in Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood, police and medics said Friday night.
According to police, the terrorist arrived by car at around 8:15 p.m. at a building used as a synagogue in the neighborhood in the northern part of East Jerusalem and opened fire.
The attacker then fled the scene toward the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina — several hundred meters away — where he encountered officers who were called to the scene.
Police said the terrorist — a resident of East Jerusalem — was shot dead after he opened fire on the officers while trying to escape on foot.
A handgun used in the attack was seized.
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According to Channel 12 news, the terrorist first shot an elderly woman in the street, then encountered a motorcycle rider and shot him, before reaching the synagogue and opening fire at people outside. Police did not immediately confirm the details.
Security and rescue forces at the scene of a shooting attack in Neve Yaakov, Jerusalem, January 27, 2023 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Speaking to reporters from the scene, police commissioner Kobi Shabtai said the attack was one of the worst Israel had seen in years.
“The terrorist shot at everyone he encountered. He got out of the car and began a murderous rampage with a handgun,” Shabtai said.
With seven killed, the shooting in Jerusalem was the deadliest terror attack since 2011, when terrorists crossed into Israel from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing eight Israelis. The last deadliest Palestinian terror attack was in 2008, when a gunman from East Jerusalem killed eight Israeli students at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in the capital.
The Magen David Adom ambulance service said its medics declared five victims dead at the scene, and another two victims were declared dead at hospitals in Jerusalem.
The gun used by a terrorist in a shooting attack in Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood, January 27, 2023. (Israel Police)
MDA said the dead included five men, aged 20, 25, 30, 50, and 60, and two women, aged 60 and 70.
The victims were not immediately named.
The wounded victims included a 15-year-old boy in moderate-to-serious condition, a 24-year-old man in moderate condition, and a 60-year-woman, also in moderate condition.
The victims had been taken to the Hadassah Mount Scopus and Shaare Zedek hospitals
Jerusalem District police chief Doron Turgeman at the scene of a deadly terror shooting in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood, January 27, 2023 (Channel 12 screenshot)
Jerusalem District Police Commander Doron Turgeman, speaking to reporters at the scene, said the terrorist had acted alone.
Dozens of officers were dispatched to the scene, police said.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who is in charge of police, arrived at the scene of the attack. Citizens at the scene shouted various comments at the minister, some in support for retribution, some in anger. Some called out “Death to terrorists.”
“It’s on your watch!” one man cried. “Let’s see what you do now.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir at the scene of a shooting attack in Neve Yaakov, Jerusalem, January 27, 2023 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who was in the United States for a personal trip, was to head back to Israel on Friday night following the attack, his office said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an assessment with top security officials, before heading to the scene of the attack.
Security forces and rescue forces at the scene of a deadly terror shooting in Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood, January 27, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Local residents told Channel 12 news that it took 20 minutes for the police to arrive. “It’s a disgrace,” one man said.
Police responded to the accusation by saying their records showed officers had arrived at the scene and killed the terrorist within five minutes of the first reports of gunfire.
The terrorist was named as Alqam Khayri, 21, a resident of East Jerusalem with no prior terror-related offenses, Hebrew-language media reports said.
Police were reported to have been operating in the neighborhood of at-Tur, where Khayri lived. Palestinian media said the gunman’s father was summoned by police for questioning.
تصحيح
اسم منفذ العملية خيري علقم (و ليس العكس) 21 عاما من القدس pic.twitter.com/Bn5OJGqlrx
— يونس الزعتري #عين_على_العدو (@YounesZaatari) January 27, 2023
Palestinian media reported that celebrations were being held in the Gaza Strip and in several Palestinian cities in the West Bank following the deadly attack.
تغطية صحفية: "#صورة من الاحتفالات في مدينة نابلس بعد عملية القدس" pic.twitter.com/pkWebQ2as7
— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) January 27, 2023
Friday’s deadly attack came following days of violence in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Tensions have increased dramatically since Thursday morning, when an Israel Defense Forces raid in the West Bank against a terrorist cell left nine Palestinians dead — most of them gunmen and members of the cell, though at least one civilian was also killed.
Thursday overnight saw rocket fire from Palestinian terror groups in Gaza and Israeli retaliatory air strikes as both sides appeared intent on avoiding an escalation into a full-scale war.
Tensions were also high in Jerusalem and the Temple Mount on Friday, though Muslim prayers went ahead without issue.