One person was killed and at least ten injured Wednesday when a Palestinian motorist rammed his vehicle into a group of people at a light rail station in Jerusalem, an Israeli Police spokeswoman said. The Islamic Hamas movement has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The driver crashed his vehicle into the pedestrians and later assaulted them with an iron rod near an Arab neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, leaving at least 10 people injured, before being shot dead by police.
One of the injured died on the way to hospital, according to Israeli media reports.
Hamas said in an e-mailed press statement that "Hamas movement blesses the heroic drive-over car attack carried out by its member Ibrahim Akari, 48, from Shu'fat neighbourhood in east Jerusalem", Xinhua reported.
"Our martyr insisted on revenge for Al-Aqsa Mosque and the martyrs of the Palestinian people," said the Hamas leaflet.
Tension in Jerusalem old city between the Palestinians and the Israeli security forces has been growing due to attempts by extremists to break into the yard of Al-Aqsa mosque and Al-Haram Al-Sharif in the old city.
"There is no place for Israel in this world. Al-Aqsa mosque needs more popular, political and resisting effort and Israel should know that touching Al-Aqsa mosque will offset their blood," said Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza.
