West Bank terror attack leaves 6 wounded; Hamas welcomes ‘heroic shooting’

A 20-year-old Palestinian shot and wounded six Israelis near a mall in the settlement of Ma’ale Adumin in the West Bank on Tuesday, including a 14-year-old boy. 

Police said the terror suspect “opened fire in all directions” at diners near the mall, whereafter he was shot and killed by a Border Police officer who heard the shooting.

The 20-year-old was identified as Mahand al-Mazaraa from the West Bank village of Al-Eizariya, according to Israeli media.

“A Border Police officer who was off-duty on his way to a haircut heard gunshots and cries of civilians that there is a terrorist. The officer began scanning the area to locate the terrorist,” the police said in a statement.

“After calls of the officer, identifying as a police officer and that the terrorist stop, the terrorist turned around and opened fire on the officer. The Border Police officer managed to return fire and neutralise the terrorist,” the statement added.

The victims were taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Centre, two of them in serious condition and the rest in moderate condition, according to authorities.

A group of Israelis gathered at the scene, chanting “death to terrorists.”

Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gviralso  arrived at the scene. Shabtai said the officer who shot and killed the 20-year-old assailant “prevented a broader terror attack.”

Haaretz quoted a senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip, saying that the attack was “a punch to the face of Ben-Gvir and his invasion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” referring to Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount last week.