Four killed in terrorist attack in Beersheva
Perpetrator stabbed three people and ran over a cyclist police say; at least two others injured in incident at petrol station and outside shopping centre in southern Israeli city
Jeremy Last is assistant web editor at the Jewish News. He lives in Israel, and is currently in his second stint at the JN, having worked for the paper back in the early 2000s!
Four people were killed and another two wounded in a terror attack in the southern Israel city of Beersheva on Tuesday afternoon.
Police say the attacker stabbed a woman at a petrol station then got in his car and ran over a cyclist before getting out and stabbing a man and a woman outside a shopping centre.
As he attempted to attack another man, the suspected terrorist was shot and killed by a passerby.
Video shows the assailant who allegedly rammed and stabbed to death at least four people in Beersheba being shot by passersby.https://t.co/7cdCrMEXeU pic.twitter.com/gmuuQKrPrn
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 22, 2022
The terrorist was named as Muhammad Alab Ahmed abu Alkiyan, a 34-year-old Bedouin Israeli from the town of Hura who has served time in Israeli prison in the past, the Jerusalem Post reported.
According to the Jerusalem Post Alkiyan was arrested in 2015, along with a number of other suspects, for supporting and promoting ISIS to students at a school he taught at.
Prime Minister expressed his condolences and said he is consulting with Internal Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev on the situation.
“I send my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the deadly attack in Beersheva and pray for the well-being of the wounded,” Bennet wrote in a tweet.
“I have now conducted a situation assessment and consultation with the Minister of Internal Security and the Commissioner of Police following the attack. ”
אני שולח את תנחומיי העמוקים למשפחות הנרצחים בפיגוע הקשה בבאר שבע ומתפלל לשלום הפצועים.
קיימתי כעת הערכת מצב והתייעצות עם השר לביטחון פנים ועם מפכ״ל המשטרה בעקבות הפיגוע. >>
— Naftali Bennett בנט (@naftalibennett) March 22, 2022
Bennet also commended the passer by who shot the suspect.
“The civilians who shot the terrorist showed resourcefulness and courage and prevented further casualties,” Bennet wrote. “Security forces are on high alert. We will work hard against terrorist operations.”
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked described it as a “terrible attack,” saying her “heart is crying.”
In a Twitter post, Shaked wrote: “A vile and subhuman terrorist murdered innocent people. I join in the grief of the families and wishes a speedy recovery to the wounded.”
Shaked also paid tribute to “the brave citizens who prevented the murder of other people,” saying they deserve to be recognised for their actions.
פיגוע נוראי, הלב בוכה ואין נחמה.
מחבל שפל ותת אדם רצח אנשים חפים מפשע.
משתתפת בצער המשפחות ומאחלת החלמה מהירה לפצועים.
מצדיעה לאזרחים האמיצים שמנעו רצח של אנשים נוספים.
מגיע לאזרחים שנהגו באומץ רב לקבל הוקרה על מעשיהם.— איילת שקד Ayelet Shaked (@Ayelet__Shaked) March 22, 2022
A Magen David Adom spokesman confirmed the emergency service had been called to the scene of the attack at 4:15pm on Tuesday.
In a tweet, the spokesman said: “A report was received in MDA’s Negev Region at 16.15 of a number of people injured on Derech Hevron and Yitzhak Nafha Streets in Beersheva.
“Paramedics are currently treating and conveying a number of injured to Soroka hospital.”
This was the third stabbing attack in Israel this week, after a 35-year-old man was stabbed and lightly wounded in Jerusalem on Saturday and two policeman were lightly injured when they were stabbed in east Jerusalem on Sunday.
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