Scene of Jerusalem terror attack Credit MDA




A Border Police officer was killed and at least 13 people were wounded in a terror attack near East Jerusalem on Wednesday after a commercial vehicle drove into a crowd of people on Shimon Hatzadik Street, near the entrance to the capital.
The Border Police officer killed was identified as Jadan Assad from the Druze town of Beit Jan in the Galilee. 
Of the rest of the wounded, three were reported to be in critical condition and four in moderate condition. They include additional Border Police officers. 
According to the Shin Bet, the terrorist, Ibrahim al-Akri, was a 38-year-old married father of five, and a resident of the East Jerusalem suburb of Shuafat or neighboring Anata, approximately four kilometers northeast of Jerusalem’s Old City. Al-Akri held a blue Israeli identity card, meaning he was an Israeli citizen.
Al-Akri had not been arrested previously by security forces, and is believed to have been a low-ranking Hamas member. He is the brother of Musa al-Akri, who was freed as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal.
The attack took place in two locations in the city. According to rescue unit head Eli Bir, who was one of the first on the scene of the accident, the vehicle hit several pedestrians on Highway 1, at a bus stop on the corner of Shimon Hatzadik Street, then continued on to the next junction, at Moshe Zaks Street, where it ploughed into more pedestrians.
Jerusalem terror attack, November 5, 2014. (Credit: Olivier Fitoussi)
The driver then exited the vehicle and began attacking people with a metal rod, before being shot and killed by police.
Later on Wednesday, there were clashes in Shuafat between residents and police, when security forces entered the camp, apparently in order to reach the attacker's house. Residents threw stones and firebombs at police.
Casualties
The trauma ward at Hadassah Hospital Ein Karem received the Border Police officer who later died, as well asthree patients in serious condition who are now being assessed.
Another four casualties were taken to Shaarei Zedek Hospital. Two are in critical condition and on life support.
Magen David Adom paramedic Ahuvia Stern who tended to the most critically wounded victim, said: "A man of about 40 was lying unconscious in the road with a bleeding head wound and extensive injuries to his extremities… We put on tourniquets, sedated him and respirated him until we could transfer him to the ambulance that took him to Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem.
"His condition worsened in the ambulance and we had to undertake resuscitation efforts, which continued in the trauma ward of the hospital. At that point, the doctors confirmed his death."
Hamas praised the attack and called for more violence.
"We praise this heroic operation," said Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum. "We call for more such ... operations."
Aharonovich described the incident as "a road incident with a terrorist purpose … the second in the area of the light rail."
Map: Approximate location of the terrorist attack
He added that the the police are widely deployed in Jerusalem, particularly in the "seam neighborhoods" between the eastern and western parts of the city and the city center.
"The action of the Border Police officer who chased after the assailant and quickly killed him was correct and professional and that is how we want these incidents to end.
"We will continue to protect Jerusalem, a sensitive city that is experiencing tough times, and this is unlikely to be the last such incident. It is impossible to prevent this sort of attack every time and in every place.
"We will return the quiet and peace to the residents of Jerusalem." 
"Abu Mazen [Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas] is the driver of the death car and the terrorists his emissaries," Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said in response to the attack.
"Israel needs to say clearly that the Fatah-Hamas government is a terror organization and we need to act accordingly."
Ibrahim al-Akri. (Credit: Paltoday.ps)
"The government of Israel needs to act with an iron fist in order to win the war against terror and public disturbances," Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said in response to the attack.

"The intention of the terrorists is to disrupt our lives, cause us fear and attack us. The only answer is to get the city back to normality and continue with our daily lives. We are here and we're not leaving."
Tensions in Jerusalem have been particularly high following the shooting of a right-wing activist last week and the police's killing of the Palestinian man suspected of the crime.
Last month, two were killed and six other people were wounded when a Palestinian drove his car into a light rail train station near Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem and ran over passersby disembarking from the train.