Soldier at Shaare Tzedek in moderate but stable condition after Jerusalem rail attack
The Jerusalem light rail (photo credit: Kobi Gideon / Flash90)
A soldier was stabbed multiple times on the Jerusalem light rail in the northern Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Zeev Thursday morning.
The Arab man arrested by police at the Qalandiya checkpoint admitted to stabbing the female soldier, 19.
According to Maariv, the attacker boarded the northbound train at the Shuafat station and sat next to the soldier. As the train approached the Beit Hanina stop, he stabbed her repeatedly and fled. Guards performed first aid on the wounded woman, and evacuated her from the train at the Yekutiel station.
News reports indicated that the attack was nationalistically motivated.
The woman was taken to Shaare Tzedek Medical Center in serious to moderate condition. Doctors are treating her for stab wounds and lung damage, and say her injuries are not life threatening.
Early reports said the man fled the scene toward the adjacent Arab neighborhood of Shuafat. Eyewitnesses described the suspected stabber as an Arab man in his 20s wearing a kaffiyeh, jeans and t-shirt.
The suspect was checked by light rail security when he entered the station, Jerusalem District Police commander Deputy Chief Nissim Edri said. Nonetheless, in the wake of the stabbing Transportation Minister Israel Katz called for increased security on the light rail.
An eyewitness told Ynet News, “I didn’t hear a shout or anything… when I looked back I suddenly saw a commotion, and when I approached I saw the young lady bleeding. She muttered, ‘Why did this happen to me?’”
Train service to northern Jerusalem was canceled after the attack.