IDF shoots dead retarded teen
Youth suffering from Down syndrome mistaken for gunman by soldiers while playing with plastic gun
IDF troops shot and killed a retarded Palestinian teenager in the West Bank town of Kabatiya after mistaking his toy gun for a real one.
Moujahed al-Simadi, 15, who suffers from the Down syndrome, was playing with a plastic gun when IDF soldiers mistook him for a gunman, Palestinian witnesses said.
The IDF is investigating the incident. Soldiers reported disturbances in the village before the shooting and were given instructions to open fire after identifying a gunman in a crowd of villagers.
Palestinian witnesses said the army entered the village overnight to conduct arrests. Palestinian teenagers gathered outside a house where IDF soldiers took position and hurled stones at the troops.
Soldiers opened fire to disperse the crowd. Al-Simadi was hit in the chest and died instantaneously.
Peak in terror warnings
The security establishment reported a peak in terror warnings, saying IDF troops have been conducting arrest raids on a daily basis.
In November a Palestinian kid was mistakenly killed by IDF troops in Jenin. IDF officials said soldiers mistook his toy gun for a real one.
AP contributed to the report
