Turkish imam stabs Israeli border policeman in Jerusalem, shot dead at scene

A 34-year-old Turkish imam on April 30 stabbed an Israeli police officer in Jerusalem while visiting the region on a tourist visa. Officers have shot the attacker dead at the scene, according to Israeli police.

Tuesday April 30 2024 09:10 pm

Reuters & Gazete Duvar

A Turkish national on April 30 stabbed an Israeli border policeman in Jerusalem and was then shot dead by officers at the scene, Israeli police said.

The border policeman was moderately wounded. Police identified the attacker as a 34-year-old Turkish citizen, who worked as an imam in Turkey's southeastern province of Urfa, according to reporting by the daily Cumhuriyet.

"A terrorist armed with a knife arrived in the Old City of Jerusalem ... charged at the border police officer and stabbed him," said a police statement.

The wounded policeman and another officer on the scene fought off and shot the attacker, who was later pronounced dead, it said.

The attacker held a tourist visa and entered Israel from Jordan on April 29.

An 18-year-old was wounded alongside the policeman, Israeli officials noted.

The police stormed the hotel the attacker stayed in, and would continue the investigation into the incident.

Topics Israel attack Urfa imam Jerusalem