JERUSALEM In an apparent imitation of an attack nearly three weeks ago, an Arab construction worker rampaged through the streets of Jerusalem on a bulldozer, crushing cars and hitting a bus before being shot dead by Israeli border police.
At least 16 people were injured in the attack early Tuesday, July 22, afternoon, including a 9-month-old baby and his mother. One of the injured remains in serious condition at Shaare Tzedek Hospital, reports say.
The driver was identified in news reports as Ghasan Abu-Tir, 22, of eastern Jerusalem. He held an Israeli identification card.
His relative, PA Parliament member Muhammad Abu-Tir, is jailed in Israel, Ynet reported.
The attack in the Yemin Moshe neighborhood was similar to a July 2 attack when a bulldozer driver from eastern Jerusalem killed three Israelis before being shot dead by an off-duty soldier.
While that assailant was assumed to have had political motives, Israeli authorities never established clear links to Palestinian terrorist groups.
Israeli police sealed off routes leaving Jerusalem following Tuesdays attack in an attempt to catch two suspected accomplices who were seen leaving the scene.
The attack, at the corner of Keren Hayesod and King David streets in the heart of Jerusalem, took place within sight of the luxury King David Hotel, which hosted US Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) during the presumptive Democratic presidential candidates visit to Israel and the PA which began Tuesday evening.
The bulldozer driver, who according to witnesses wore a large white skullcap common to religious Muslims, chased the No. 13 bus while raising the shovel of his front-end loader, the driver of the bus told Haaretz.
I was driving on the main road when the [bulldozer] hit me in the rear, on the right-hand side, driver Avi Levi told Haaretz. After I passed him he turned round, made a U-turn and rammed the windows twice with the shovel.
The third time he aimed for my head, he came up to my window and I swerved to the right otherwise I would have gone to meet my maker.
Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski told Israels Channel 10 that the two bulldozer attacks could affect the future hiring of Arabs from eastern Jerusalem. We should reconsider the employment of these people, he said.
Lupolianski, who was near the area of the attack and rushed to the scene, added that tools of construction become opportunities for attacks.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, which took place while he was meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres in the presidents residence located a few miles from the scene.
It was the first meeting in the residence with a PA president.
