Shooting in Jerusalem: eight wounded, five of them Americans

At least eight people including five AmericansThey were injured in a bus shooting near the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City early Sunday morning.

At around 1:30 am local time on Sunday, police said that a “terrorist armed with weapons shot on a bus and vehicles in a parking lot near the Old City of Jerusalem “.

According to the hospitals, two Americans are being treated at Hadassah Medical Center and three at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. At least two of the injured Americans were tourists.Hospital sources said so. Israeli media had previously reported that four American victims were tourists and members of the same family.

two of the victims they are in serious condition while the other six victims have minor and moderate injuries, according to the emergency services. One of the injured was pregnant and underwent an emergency caesarean section. Both the mother and baby are in serious condition, according to Shaare Zedek Hospital.

Shock

This was stated by the American embassy in Jerusalem “shocked and saddened” for the attack. They confirmed that the victims included US citizens and that they were gathering more information.

“We strongly condemn all acts of terrorism and actions that exacerbate tensions,” an embassy spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.

“Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims and We wish everyone a speedy and full recovery.“, reads the press release.

US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides also condemned Sunday’s attack. “I strongly condemn the terrorist attack outside the Old City of Jerusalem. I pray for a speedy recovery for all the innocent victims, ”Nides said in a tweet.

“Deeply saddened to confirm that the Americans were injured in this attack. I have talked to families and will keep them in my prayers. I will continue to monitor the situation, “she added.

Nides was confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to Israel in November 2021 and is married to Virginia Moseley, CNN’s editorial executive vice president for the network’s U.S. operations.

the attacker

The killer fled the scene, persecuted by the security forces, the Shin Bet and the IDF. Police said an Israeli police air unit helicopter assisted in the search.

The suspect then turned himself in to the police.. The gun he was carrying was confiscated, according to a police spokesman.

The suspect is an Israeli citizen from East Jerusalem.a security source told CNN.

He was not known for any terrorism-related offenses, but he had a criminal record and had spent time in prison, the security source told CNN.

The source said the suspect, whose identity has not been released, was born in 1996.

The Israeli media described it as a Palestinian who has Israeli citizenship.

Police and forensic investigators began operations at the scene to investigate the attack, police said.

Sunday’s shooting comes after hostilities in Gaza last weekend killed dozens of Palestinians. On Sunday a ceasefire was announced between Israel and the militant group of Islamic Jihad in Gaza.