A potentially deadly coordinated double terror attack in two areas of Gush Etzion on Friday night miraculously ended with only three people injured.
The first incident occurred close to midnight when a car exploded at a gas station at the Gush Etzion Junction. A car had pulled up to the station against the flow of traffic and as it pulled up, the hood caught on fire. The terrorist then emerged from the car, completely burned. A gas station employee told Ynet that at first, an employee tried to douse the terrorist with a water hose, thinking it was an accidental car fire. But then the terrorist began running and trying to attack the security forces who had arrived at the scene. IDF soldiers opened fire, killing him.
Two IDF officers were injured by friendly fire, one moderately and one lightly, and were evacuated to Shaare Tzedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.
Only moments later, another terror attack occurred at the entrance to the yishuv of Karmei Tzur. A terrorist rammed his car through the barrier at the entrance of the yishuv and tried to run over the security guard, lightly injuring him. Nearby IDF soldiers opened fire at the driver but he continued driving into the yishuv. A member of the yishuv’s security patrol rushed to the area in his own car and deliberately collided with the terrorist’s car and then got out of the car and opened fire, killing the terrorist. Shortly later, the car exploded.
The patrol member was lightly injured in the collision and was evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital where he received treatment and was released shortly later.
Security forces called to the scene launched a search of the yishuv to rule out the presence of additional terrorists on the yishuv. Meanwhile, residents of the yishuv were ordered to stay inside their homes and were only given an all-clear seven hours later.
As of Motzei Shabbos, an investigation of the incidents is still ongoing but it is believed that the two terrorists, both residents of Chevron, drove together from Chevron in two booby-trapped cars on Route 60 to carry out a coordinated terror attack, one at the gas station and one in Karmei Tzur. Security officials believe that the car bombs, both of which were packed with nails and screws, were manufactured in the same explosive lab in Chevron.
Following the attack, IDF forces entered Chevron and arrested six suspects. They also imposed a military closure on the city.
Israeli security forces suspect that a third suicide bomber, who has not yet been located, may have driven along Route 60 with the other two terrorists.
(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)
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One Response
Thank You Hashem for making sure that these Arabs were not successful in causing a mass explosion with lots of injuries.
May Hashem send a quick
רפואה שלמה
To all those Yidden that got injured.