Three women were murdered in the Wednesday noon bulldozer attack in which an Arab resident of the Tzur Bachar area of Yerushalayim used the powerful construction vehicle to ram into two buses and crush vehicles in his path along the way. The terrorist was eventually stopped by an off-duty soldier who fired at him at close range. The terrorist, who held an Israeli identity card, was identified as 31-year-old Hossam Dawiath, married with two children.

Despite reports that the terrorist was employed on the Jerusalem light rail project, officials of the City Pass Company and the city’s Moriah Company, both working on the project, stated that after an investigation, they are certain that the attacker and the bulldozer used were not connected to the train construction.

76 WOUNDED TAKEN TO CITY HOSPITALS

As the evening approaches, it appears the number of injured has climbed to 76, some listed in moderate and serious condition. As is usually the case in terror attacks, many so-called walking wounded make their way to emergency rooms by private vehicle or other means.

UPDATE ON THE INJURED

Shaare Zedek Medical Center officials’ report receiving and treating 40 victims of the attack. 13 have been released and one remains in moderate condition, with the remainder listed in light condition. One of the victims was pronounced dead on arrival.  Two infants were brought to Shaare Zedek, and one has since been returned to the mother. It appears the mother of the second infant is among the dead. The child has been turned over to social services. Both infants were unharmed physically.

Bikur Cholim Hospital received 10 victims, with one listed in moderate condition and the remainder light.

Prof. Shmuel Shapira of Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital reports receiving 16 victims, 9 of whom were since released.

Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital reported earlier in the day that the trauma unit received 6 victims, with none in serious condition.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION NUMBERS

Bikur Cholim Hospital: 12-55-123
Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital: 12-155-121
Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital: 12-55-122
Shaare Zedek Medical Center: 12-55-125

TERRORIST HEADED ON JAFFA STREET TOWARDS THE SHUK

The terrorist turned left onto Jaffa Street, traveling towards Machane Yehuda, the “Shuk” on the wrong side of the road, striking the first bus, flipping it over. He then continued crushing vehicles, continuing with the carnage – moving indiscriminately – crushing anything in his way. Police realize that if he would have traveled another two blocks, he would have reached the shuk which would have resulted in total devastation.

BROTHERS-IN-LAW ARE HEROES

IDF Golani Brigade soldier Private Moshe Plasser is the soldier in the blue tee shirt seen on a BBC video around the world. He eliminated the threat by climbing into the driver’s cabin of the bulldozer, shooting the terrorist in the head. Yassam police commando Eli Mizrachi “verified the kill” by firing addition shots at the terrorist at point blank range. Glaser just finished basic training for the elite Egoz reconnaissance unit within Golani three days earlier.

Plasser explained that he was on his motor scooter and saw the bulldozer flip the bus, immediately realizing it was a terror attack.

“I dumped my scooter and began running to the scene, looking for someone with a weapon. Then I saw Oren Ben-Shimon, who had a handgun, and together we tried at least to hit his legs to remove them from the gas pedal.

“He shouted ‘Ala Akhbar’ and then, I took the weapon and fired three shots at him, followed by the policeman verifying the kill.”

Plasser is a brother-in-law of Captain David Shapiro, the off-duty IDF officer who eliminated the terrorist in the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva attack.

Plasser stated “I did what was expected of me, nothing more”.

EYEWITNESS REPORT

According to eyewitness Moshe Mizrachi, he realized what was taking place, seeing the bulldozer strike one vehicle after another. “He began driving towards the shuk,” realizing this would result in even more death and injuries. Mizrachi stated he tried to get onto the step of the tractor, but was thrown off to the ground. Shortly thereafter he heard a number of shots and then saw a policeman climb near the driver’s compartment of the tractor, shouting at them to fire.

The policeman hesitated and the bulldozer moved and the terrorist tried attacking the policeman. “I shouted fire at him” and they then fired the final shots, eliminating the terrorist.

OPPOSITION LEADER BARAKAT

Jerusalem opposition leader Nir Barakat told Channel 10 News “We must begin acting as sovereign rulers in our capital,” explaining that while Arab citizens are entitled to the same rights as others, as soon as they become a threat, “we must act accordingly.”

Barakat explained both this attack and the Merkaz HaRav attack were carried out by terrorists who reside in the capital, who have Israeli identity cards. Barakat called for stern action against the entire direct family of the terrorist, perhaps revoking citizenship and other measures to deter others from following his example.

Many ministers and MKs have released angry statements, with a growing call for action against the terrorist’s family being heard as another attack is perpetrated in the heart of the capital by an Arab terrorist who lived and worked in the holy city.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)