Two killed, five injured in Jerusalem car-ramming attack
A six-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man were killed in a car-ramming attack in northern Jerusalem on Friday afternoon.
Emergency responders at the scene of a car-ramming attack in northern Jerusalem on Feb. 10, 2023. Photo by Shalev Shalom/TPS
Five other people were injured and evacuated to area hospitals, including a child in critical condition.
The terrorist was identified as Hossein Karake, a 31-year-old Israeli citizen and resident of the eastern Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya. Karake was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer at the scene and by responding officers after ploughing his car into a crowd of people at a bus stop on Golda Meir Blvd, corner of Binyamin Mintz, in Ramot.
A spokesperson for the Hadassah Medical Organization said that a 42-year-old man was in moderate condition with a “significant” leg injury at the Hadassah-Mount Scopus Medical Centre while a 10-year-old boy was being treated for minor bruises at the Hadassah-Ein Kerem Medical Centre. Both are fully conscious.
Four other victims were being treated at the Shaarei Zedek Medical Center. A hospital spokesman said an eight-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man were in critical condition. The other two victims were being treated for less serious injuries.
Following the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered that Karake’s home be sealed off for demolition.
“I conducted a security situation assessment and ordered security forces reinforced, arrests made and to act immediately to seal the terrorist’s house and demolish it. Our answer to terrorism is to strike it with all our might and deepen our grip on our country even more,” Netanyahu said.
Fatah and Hamas both praised Karake’s attack as “heroic.”
Magen David Adom paramedic Lishai Shemesh was in the area at the time of the attack.
He said: “I was in the car with my wife and children and noticed a car driving fast into the bus stop and crushing the people who were waiting there. I stopped at the side and immediately ran towards the victims. A security person neutralized the terrorist. It was a shocking scene. We saw several victims, including six and eight year old children who were lying unconscious. We immediately began to triage the victims and provide life-saving treatment. MDA teams were immediately at the scene in large numbers, and continued treatment while conveying to hospital. I joined one of the ambulances and we conveyed a 20 year old male with a head injury in severe condition to Shaare Tzedek hospital. Unfortunately his death was determined in the hospital.”
MDA EMT Shraga Rosenthal: “The scene was terrible when we arrived. We saw a vehicle near the bus stop that hit pedestrians that were waiting. We saw seven victims near each other. Two of them were 6 & 8 year old children who were unconscious with severe multi-trauma injuries. A 20 year old male and 30 year old male were unconscious, and 3 further victims were conscious with limb injuries. We provided first aid, and performed CPR on the two children. This is a very serious incident.”
Australia’s ambassador to Israel RalphKing tweeted: “Deeply saddened by news that a car ramming in Ramot has claimed lives, including that of a young child. My condolences to the victims’ families, and hopes for the quick recovery of those wounded. Australia strongly condemns such violence.”
Report: Pesach Benson/TPS Zaki Heler/MDA/J-Wire
Bus stops need anti-ramming bollards.