Bulldozer driver a relative of Hamas lawmaker

Man who carried out Jerusalem attack named as Ghasan Abu-Tir of east Jerusalem. His relative, Palestinian Parliament member Muhammad Abu-Tir, is jailed in Israel
Ali Waked

Palestinian sources in Jerusalem reported Tuesday that the man who carried out the bulldozer attack on Jerusalem's King David Street was Ghasan Abu-Tir, 22, of the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Umm Tuba.

His relative, Hamas lawmaker Muhammad Abu-Tir, is jailed in Israel.

Killing Spree

18 injured in Jerusalem bulldozer attack / Efrat Weiss

Once again: Bulldozer driver runs wild on Jerusalem's King David Street, crashing into cars; at least 18 people injured, one sustaining moderate to serious wounds. Civilian, Border Guard officers shoot terrorist to death

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Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, who arrived at the scene of Tuesday’s bulldozer, said that “this is another east Jerusalem resident from on of Jerusalem’s villages.”

He added, “You throw terrorists out the door, they climb through the window with all kinds of means and ideas. Every working tool becomes a means of terror and we must rethink how we employ those working here.”

The attack took place as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with President Shimon Peres at the latter's Jerusalem residence.

"We always oppose terror incidents," said Abbas at the end of the meeting, "and we call out against such incidents. We pray for the injured people's recovery."

Peres said, "There is no need to say that we condemn this incident in every way. The State of Israel cannot accept this. We won't accept this as a routine. The Security forces will take every measure needed in order to guarantee the safety of Jerusalem's residents. I wish the injured a full recovery."

Efrat Weiss and Amnon Meranda contributed to this report