12:14PM IL: According to preliminary reports from MDA sources, a terrorist(s) has entered Yishuv Bat Ayin in the Gush Etzion district, armed with an axe and a gun.

A 7-year-old seems to have sustained a head injury from an axe. A second person was injured by gunfire. The conditions of the wounded are not known as this time. Additional details to follow.

12:30PM IL: Advanced life support resuscitation is being performed on a child gravely injured in his head. A second victim, about 7, whose condition is described as moderate-to serious, is en route to a Jerusalem hospital.

There now appears to be a third victim and unconfirmed reports of one person, perhaps the terrorists, killed by gunfire. The dead person appears to be a child.

Details to follow as they become available. Please remember details are being reported in real time and likely to change.

12:42PM IL: Security authorities have shut down the area and instructed residents to remain in their homes as it appears the terrorist remains at large.

A child approximately 14-years-old has been pronounced dead.

12:49PM IL: The wounded 7-year-old is en route to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital trauma center. A police chopper is operating overhead as the manhunt for the terrorist continues.

1:03PM IL: A 13-year-old teen has been murdered in the Bat Ayin terror attack. The small community located near Kibbutz Kfar Etzion has a policy barring Arab workers from the community. It is too early to know how the terrorist gained entry into the community.

According to Bat Ayin sources, the wounded child transported to the Hadassah trauma center is Yair Gamliel, 7, the son of Ofir Gamliel, a convicted member of the Bat Ayin cell who has already served 7 years of his 15-year prison term. His mother is on her way to the trauma unit while efforts are underway to have the father released from prison.

It appears the terrorist remains at large at this time. The head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Shaul Goldstein, released a message that the community’s first response security team did fire at the terrorist before he fled. It remains unclear if the terrorist was wounded.

Yishuv officials are already blaming the decision of the previous Israeli administration to relax restrictions on PA (Palestinian Authority) residents for the attack. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has not yet released a statement following the attack, which occurred about an hour ago.

No terror organization is claiming responsibility for the attack.

1:08PM IL: The teen murdered in the axe attack in Yishuv Bat Ayin tried running home after being struck across his head by the terrorist armed with an axe. He collapsed at the entrance of his home where paramedics implemented CPR and advanced life saving procedures, unfortunately without success. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

According to Zaka volunteer in Bat Ayin, Ozer Silbershlag, who explains he arrived about 10 minutes into the attack, the gunfire heard early into the attack was a resident who tried to hit the terrorist or scare him away. Residents are instructed to remain in their homes at this time as the terrorist appears to still be in the area.

1:13PM IL: Baruch Hashem, officials in the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital trauma center report the 7-year-old child wounded in the attack is in light condition.

1:50PM IL: The sunny erev Shabbos/Pessach day and yomtov cleaning has come to an abrupt half in Bat Ayin as the family of the young teen who was murdered by a lone terrorist earlier in the day arrives at the home, where the victim’s body remains.

The bereaved family of nine children is trying to digest the bitter news that one son is no longer alive, a child who will not take part in the Pessach Seder. in his last moments of life, the child tried to make his way home, collapsing at the doorstep, taking his last breaths in this world.

In the meantime, at a nearby Arab village, IDF troops have a home surrounded, perhaps believing the terrorist is inside, or perhaps just providing a lead. In the meantime, security forces are still operating in Bat Ayin and the surrounding area.

2:08PM IL: Authorities in Bat Ayin working to piece together the events of the terror attack are being told by witnesses that the terrorist managed to enter the community disguised as a Jew. Details are not available at this time.

Following the terror attack, security forces throughout Yehuda and Shomron have moved to the highest operational level.

3:09PM IL: The teen murdered in the Bat Ayin terror attack has been identified as Shlomo Nativ HY”D, who is reported to have been 14 or 16-years-old. The levaya is scheduled to take place at 5:00pm in the Gush Etzion Beis Chaim.

Tefillos are requested for the wounded 7-year-old, Yair, who is reported in light-to-moderate condition in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.

There are unconfirmed reports that the terrorist has been apprehended. Jerusalem police have lowered their operational level. Security forces throughout Yehuda and Shomron are on heightened alert status and commanders are concerned of possible revenge attacks against Arabs as well as additional attacks against Jews.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)