Border police near Ma’aras HaMachpelah on Thursday afternoon 16 Shevat detained a suspicious 19-year-old Arab male from Hebron who was found to be carrying a box cutter.

The suspect was taken to the area police station. During questioning he requested something to eat. As officers were getting him something he attacked one of them and tried to wrestle his weapon from him as he shouted “Ala Akbar”. A second officer turned and realized what was taking place. He chambered a bullet while the attacker continued efforts to grab the handgun from the first officer. He then fired a single shot at the attacker’s lower body. The suspect was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

A probe of his past revealed he was arrested in the past for entering the Machpelah with a knife.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)