Four Israelis murdered, several injured, in terrorist stabbing attacks in Be’er Sheva
Two different stabbing attacks were perpetrated by terrorists Tuesday afternoon in the southern Israeli city of Be’er Sheva – one at a gas station and the other at an outdoor mall on Yitzhak Nafha Street. 4 innocent civilians were murdered and one terrorist was killed at the scene.
Scene of attack Beer Sheva – Photo TPS
According to police reports, at 4:10 PM local time a terrorist arrived at a gas station located on Hebron Road in Be’er Sheva where he proceeded to stab a woman with a knife.
The terrorist was neutralized by armed civilians who were at the scene and who fired their weapons at him. The one who killed the attacker is an as yet unidentified man who is reportedly a bus driver.
Police say that district commander Superintendent Peretz Amar arrived at the scene and is conducting an assessment of the situation at the site.
The terrorist has been identified as Muhammad Galeb Ahmad Abu Alqian, a 33-year-old resident of the Israeli Arab town of Hura, and a former teacher at Hura High School.
Ahmad Abu Alqian was previously arrested in 2015, at which time he admitted to supporting ISIS and attending ISIS meetings in Hura. Abu Alqian planned to leave for Syria that year to join ISIS. On June 28, 2015, an indictment was filed in the Be’er Sheva District Court alleging participation in an unauthorized association meeting, conspiracy to commit a crime, attempted activity in an unlawful association and attempted unlawful exit.
MDA reported that its medics and paramedics arrived at the gas station and provided medical treatment to a 35-year-old woman who was evacuated to Soroka Hospital in a critical condition with stab wounds.
MDA has also reported that its teams were also sent to the “Big” shopping plaza in Be’er Sheva in response to a report of a second stabbing attack.
MDA medics and paramedics announced the death of a 40-year-old woman on-site and sent 3 people to Soroka Hospital, including a 60-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman in critical condition, and a 40-year-old woman in moderate condition.
Soroka Hospital earlier reported that 2 women from the stabbing attacks were being treated in the trauma room at the Hospital.
Both were defined as in critical condition at the time, suffering from stab wounds in the back.
However, it has since been confirmed that 4 people were murdered in the attacks. There is no word yet as to the identification of the victims, nor to the identities of any wounded people.
Barriers were set up at the entrances and exits from Be’er Sheva in an attempt to find more people involved in the attack.
The bus drivers’ union, referring to the bus driver who killed the terrorist, issued a statement saying, “We send condolences to the families of those killed and pray for the healing of the wounded. The bus driver’s resourcefulness prevented the incident from being much more difficult. ”
A Hamas spokesman praised the murders calling the attack a “heroic operation carried out by a Palestinian fighter from the Negev.” He added that “the attack came from the heart of the Negev to emphasize that the idea of resistance is deep and ingrained in our Palestinian people and everyone is willing to carry out these actions.”
“What happened inside the occupied interior (i.e. all of Israel and just the disputed areas) emphasizes to the enemy that he is afraid of this situation that will explode inside the occupied interior,” said the spokesman.
The Islamic Jihad’s Jibril Martyrs Brigades terrorist group said that it welcomed the “heroic operation in Be’er Sheva” and said that the murder of 4 innocent people confirms that “resistance in all its forms and in all its spheres is a choice of our people to get rid of the occupation and defeat it from our lands.” This means that the group considers Be’er Sheva and all of Israel as occupied lands, and not just those areas in dispute.
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said: “I send my deepest condolences to the families of those who were murdered in the heinous terrorist attack in Be’er Sheva and am praying for the well-being of those who were wounded.
I have just held an assessment of the situation and a consultation with the Public Security Minister and the Israel Police Inspector General pursuant to the attack. The civilians who shot the terrorist showed resourcefulness and bravery and prevented additional loss of life.
The security forces are on maximum alert. We will take strong action against terrorists. We will also pursue and apprehend those who aided and abetted them.”
The Zionist Federation of Australia condemns the terrorist attack in which four people were killed in Be’er Sheva overnight with horror and sadness.
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “Once again, Israel is in mourning because of an act of murderous hatred perpetrated against innocent civilians. The Australian Jewish community sends condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery for those injured. As ever, we stand united with Israel against terrorism.”
With J-Wire
