4 Israeli soldiers killed, 15 injured in truck-ramming attack in eastern Jerusalem

Members of ZAKA search and rescue organization gather human remains from a truck-ramming attack in eastern Jerusalem that killed four Israeli soldiers and injured 15 others, Jan. 8, 2017. (ZAKA photo by Yehezkiel Itkin)

JERUSALEM (JTA) — On January 8, 2017, a truck crashed into a group of soldiers in eastern Jerusalem, killing four and injuring at least 15, in what is suspected to be a terrorist attack.

The soldiers, cadets in an officers’ training course, had just gotten off of a bus on early Sunday afternoon on the promenade in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem, also known as East Talpiot. The promenade marks the border between the eastern and western halves of the city, and is usually full of joggers, walkers and tourists.

Four of the soldiers, all 20, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service. At least one of the injured is in serious condition. The injured soldiers were evacuated to the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Karem and to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Three of the dead soldiers are reported to be women.

The driver of the truck was shot and killed by shots fired during the attack, when the truck veered from where it was driving and headed for the soldiers, according to reports. Witnesses told Israel Radio that after the truck hit the group it accelerated in reverse, trapping soldiers under the large truck.

Reports said the truck had come from the eastern eastern Jerusalem Arab neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber and had yellow Israeli license plates. The driver was later identified as Fadi al-Qanbar, 28, of Jabel Mukaber. Hamas said he had served time in an Israeli prison.

Hamas praised the attack in a statement posted on the Facebook page of its spokesman.

“The continuous operations in the West Bank and Jerusalem prove that the Jerusalem intifada is not an isolated event, but rather a decision by the Palestinian people to revolt until it attains its freedom and liberation from the Israeli occupation,” the post said.

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