Summary of the attack. Earlier updates below:
Two Arab terrorists attempted to board a bus transporting school children. When the terrorists heard the shouts questioning why they were boarding, they turned around and exited according to the police report.
Police arrived on the scene and they were given a description of the men. They saw the two terrorists attacking a man at a bus stop. They opened fire and struck them both. A 19-year-old avreich was injured, transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem in light-to-moderate condition. The terrorists were shot by police. One died enroute to the hospital and the second remains in critical condition in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.
Police then distanced the crowd, fearing an explosive device on the terrorists. Beit Shemesh Police Chief Shlomei praised the actions of his men, who neutralized the terrorists and protected innocent residents.
According to Israel Police spokesman for the chareidi community Shabtai Gerverchik, speaking from the scene of the attack, the terrorists did not appear to be trying to enter a shul as some reported. Gerverchik explained while there is a shul in the area, they were not directly outside.
When Beit Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbul spoke to the media, he said they intended to enter the shul. The mayor stated that city officials will be reevaluating security amid an awareness Beit Shemesh is plagued with PA (Palestinian Authority) residents inside Green Line Israel illegally working in construction.
An ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) spokesman adds one terrorist was born in 19985, a resident of Tzurif in the Yatir area. The other terrorist, a Hamas terrorist, was imprisoned in Israel from 2012-2014 after being apprehended with a knife near the Me’oras HaMachpelah. The two wore shirts that said “Izzadin al-Kassem”, the military faction of Hamas.
Earlier reports below:
07:57: Police have fired at a man holding knives in his hand on Havakook Street in Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel. The man was hit by the gunfire. More to follow.
08:02: It is reported an avreich has been stabbed. His condition is not known.
08:10: Ichud Hatzalah: A man was stabbed in his upper body on Yechezkel Street at the corner of Havakook HaNavi in Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel. The victim is conscious and his injuries are non-life-threatening.
08:15: Zaka Chief Yehuda Meshi-Zahav explains to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that the terrorists tried entering a shul. The wounded avreich is one of the mispallalim.
08:25: Ariel, who arrived at about 7:45 AM, told Kol Chai Radio that the terrorists were there from shortly before 7:00 AM and despite numerous calls reporting suspected terrorists, the police response was very delayed. They decided to leave and I told my friend let’s follow them. Who knows what they are up to?
They finally arrived and that is when the two attacked, and B”H police were there and they fired at the two and wounded them seriously. This was a major miracle. Who knows what could have happened if they got on a bus, each with two knives. I do not want to think what would have happened.
08:32: MDA: The victim, 18, is being transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem in light-to-moderate condition.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photos: Medbarim Tikshoret)
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9 Responses
Shoot to kill. – animals!!!
Beshem Clint Eastwood
“Go ahead – make my day”
“despite numerous calls reporting suspected terrorists, the police response was very delayed”
What does that mean? Was this a replay of the 3 Charedie Kedoshim who were murdered last year? They thought it was a joke? The dispacher should be thrown in prison but of course, in Israel, no Government employee EVER gets fired even if innocent citizens are hurt or killed.
We have one police station on route 38, the main road leading into the city. Every day, most of the day, it is backed up about 2 miles. The cops have to get to the OTHER SIDE of BS to go up to Gimmel & without traffic it takes time. That is why responses are delayed.
Of course, it may also be true that no one believed the callers.
PLease see a live on-site Arutz Sheva (A7.org)interview by an eyewitness who was there from almost the beginning of the Arabs arriving at the bus stop. They did not attempt to actually board a bus although they looked into every one that passed. They attacked the avreich as the police arrived. Very miraculous, all that was NOT done!
Wow, computerbubby! With the greater Bet Shemesh metro area receiving the status of among the five largest cities in the country, it’s time to pressure/campaign for an increased presence – more precinct stations!
As a resident of RBS Gimmel its sort of ironic since someone gave funding months ago for a police caravan and it sat empty all these months. Well today they put up a sign and Israeli flag and the place was hoping. Sorry they had to wait for someone to get hurt before they took action….
The vulnerability of RBS3 is as plain as the day is long. Arab workers are present day and NIGHT (they sleep over illegally in the unfinished buildings)Repeated complaints have brought nothing. As a designated religious community, filled with olim – the population is untrained militarily and mostly unarmed, except for prayers and mitzvot – which is what protected them for the unconscionable 45 minutes it took for the authorities to arrive. My children, who live on Havakuk street,near the attacks chose RBS partly because it is located well within the green line borders and was supposedly part of an established and protected area. As Mrs. D says, a pressure campaign needs to begin NOW. The construction needs to halt until the security situation can be resolved. Yes, profits will be lost, workers will suffer, the deadlines will be missed, but is it better to designate the residents a korban medina? How dare Bibi call on the French people and other Jews of the world, to come home and then allow his government to locate them in an unprotected community crawling with potential terrorists.
To Mrs. D. I myself was on a bus that the terrorist’s tried to go on. I live in Gimmel and there are so many Arabs that we just get used to it. When I wanted to get on to the 7:00 o’clock bus the 2 Arabs were sitting at the bus stop, then when the bus came the one with the gray shirt got on the bus and asked the driver (whom happened to be an Arab as well!!) something and then got off. My neighbor as well saw the Arabs try to go on to her kids school bus but when she started screaming at them they got off.
Demand from contractors, city officials that you want an Arab-FREE zone for safety. You will have to pay through your nose for sure.
Why aren’t there SHOMRIM squads in vehicles driving through these neighborhoods with arms? Then every resident had the SHOMRIM # & calls them when needed. It’s s volunteer group that everyone has a designated time to participste. Get up
And be activists!!!