BICOM

An Israeli border policewoman was killed yesterday and another seriously wounded in a coordinated terror attack near the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City.

A border police patrol asked two of the assailants for their identification as they sat on a bench and when one handed over his papers, the other opened fire. The officers shot and killed the attackers, before a third terrorist approached and also opened fire, before being shot dead. 19-year-old Hadar Cohen, a Border Police trainee was taken to a Jerusalem hospital but died of her wounds, while another remains in serious condition. Makeshift automatic weapons, knives and pipe bombs were found at the scene. Police said that “The goal was to carry out a large attack,” most likely on civilians but was thwarted by the Border Police patrol.

It was the latest incident in near-daily attacks by Palestinians during the last five months, which has seen at least 30 Israelis killed. However, the vast majority of attacks have been stabbings or vehicle ramming, carried out by so-called ‘lone wolves.’ By contrast, yesterday’s attack involved considerable coordination and preparation. Jerusalem Deputy Police Chief Avshalom Peled said, “This is an escalation from what we’ve seen thus far. The police officers prevented a combined and much larger attack.” The three terrorists were all aged 20-21, from Qabatiya and nearby Jenin in the West Bank.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a special security consultation with security officials, including Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, IDF chief of staff and Chief of Police. As a result, restrictions were placed on entry and exit from Qabatiya. Meanwhile, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin commented, “With all of Israel” he prays for the recovery of the wounded “and thank the Border Police men and women who guard the walls of Jerusalem.”

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday met with the families of 11 terrorists who were killed while carrying out attacks on Israelis since October, calling them “martyred sons.”