Route 60 Ramming & Attempted Stabbing
Breaking: Ramming Terror Attack in Gush Etzion, 2 injured, one seriously
Two teenagers were injured in a Palestinian car-ramming and stabbing attack on Route 60 near El-Hader junction. One teen is in serious condition, the other lightly injured.
A terrorist attack took place on Route 60 near the El-Hader junction, southbound from Husan. The assailant, a Palestinian resident of Beit Fajjar, carried out a car-ramming and attempted stabbing.
A preliminary investigation reveals that a lone attacker struck a pedestrian island at the El-Hader junction, ramming several people. He then exited the vehicle with a knife. No additional suspects were involved.
The attacker was neutralized by retired Colonel Hezi Nechama, (who used to be the commander of the Alexandroni Brigade) and who happened to be in the area with his handgun.
Nechama recounted the incident: “I was passing through the junction and about 20 meters away I heard a loud bang. I got out of the car to see if it was an accident. People were shouting, ‘He has a knife!’ I saw him running toward me. I yelled, ‘Stop!’ [but] he didn’t stop. I fired at his legs, but he kept charging. I continued shouting ‘Stop!’ and when he still didn’t, I fired at his torso. That’s when he fell.”
The IDF has confirmed reports of the attack. Security forces have rushed to the area.
One victim is mildly to moderately wounded and the other, a 15 year old boy, is seriously wounded. They have been transported to Shaarei Tzedek and Hadassah Hospitals.
First responders from Magen David Adom, Aviel Itach, Daniel Elikim, and Eli Eisenbach, arrived at the scene and found two victims. They provided first aid, including bandages and splints. One teen, about 15 years old, was seriously hurt, while the other, 16, had minor injuries. Both were taken to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
Yossi Gottseman, spokesperson for Shaare Zedek, added, "The trauma unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center has received a patient in serious condition following the recent attack on the Tapuah Junction area (Highway 60).
After an initial assessment, the patient is being transferred for imaging and further treatment."
.Tekoa Security Department stated, “Following a security incident near the Tunnel Road, the highway in the South Efrat area is closed to traffic.”
UPDATE: The two teenagers injured in today’s attack have been identified as Yeshiva students from Jerusalem.