Dichter: Jerusalem attacks not an intifada

VIDEO - A Border Guard officer was seriously wounded by a terrorist who opened fire at Israelis near the Lions' Gate in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday night, and his life is currently in danger. A police officer was also wounded moderately in the shooting attack. Border Guard officer David Shriki of Rishon Lezion is currently hospitalized in critical condition at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in the capital, while policeman Imad Gadir of northern Israel is hospitalized in moderate condition at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center. On Saturday, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter arrived at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, where the Border Guard officer is receiving medical treatment. He visited the officer's room and spoke to his family. The terrorist who shot the officers escaped in the direction of a nearby cemetery, and security forces are still searching for him. Police have estimated that the shooting was not linked to the terror attacks that have recently occurred in the capital. Regarding the seriously wounded officer, Dichter said, "He is fighting for his life. We must pray for him to come through these critical hours." He also said police would investigate why the two officers didn't see the shooter, and that he was "confident the Shin Bet and the police will put their hands on him." Video courtesy of infolive.tv He also expressed concern for the recent attacks carried out in the capital. "The last line of terror attacks is very unsettling," he said, however "this was an attack with the characteristics of a sole incident." Dichter said he believed the recent incidents were unrelated. "It's not an intifada and there is no apparent connection between the incidents," he said. Forces at Lions' Gate, Old City Jerusalem. (Photo: Gil Yohanan) Regarding the similarities between the fact that in recent attacks the terrorists were from east Jerusalem, and in this case the terrorist escaped east, Dichter said that "east Jerusalem is part of Jerusalem. The large majority of the population there is calm and peaceful. "Those who have carried out attacks are mostly behind bars. I still don't know whether the attacker came from inside or outside of Jerusalem, but the Shin Bet and police know how to handle both cases." Dichter also visited the wounded police officer at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. He told Dichter about the attack and said he hoped to recover within a few weeks. He said he would invite the minister to the party in honor of his release from the hospital. 'A serious incident' The attack took place around midnight Friday. Large security and emergency medical forces were immediately dispatched to the area, and first to arrive were two officers, one from the Border Guard and the other police. They heard gunfire, but at first believed it to be from a wedding nearby. When it turned into rapid fire exchange the two rushed to the scene, and found one of the victims lying on the ground and the other returning fire. They also saw a suspicious man fleeing the scene. "This was a serious incident," said Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen, who held a situation assessment with Jerusalem District Commander Aharon Franco. "The terror attack carried out tonight signifies a series of attacks in the Jerusalem district. We will make every effort to track down the attacker, continue the search all night and bring new forces in at daylight," Cohen added. He said they had had no intelligence warning of an attack of this kind, the last of a series of terror attacks that have occurred in the capital over recent months. Like Dichter, he said he did not believe the recent incidents were related. "Jerusalem district is a strong and stable district, and ready for such incidents. I don't see a connection to the other terror attacks in Jerusalem, and the recent series of attacks does not signify anything about the future. There is a huge array of officers and Border Guard officers working day and night," Commisioner Cohen concluded. Ronen Medzini contributed to the story

Dichter: Jerusalem attacks not an intifada

(Video) One of two officers shot in Friday night terror attack in capital currently fighting for his life; interior security minister visits him in hospital. 'I am confident police, Shin Bet will put their hands on terrorist,' he says