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Scene of shooting incident
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin

Man suspected of shooting 2 Arabs in Old City released to house arrest

Suspect tells investigators he was assaulted by group of Arabs while walking with friend in Old City; Arabs lightly inured in incident, Silwan residents throw stones at police in response

The Jerusalem Magistrates' Court Saturday evening released a man suspected of opening fire at two Arabs at a parking lot in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday to house arrest.

 

The suspect was released on his own bail under restricting conditions until September 21.

 

Investigators estimate that the man, in his 20s, opened fire at the Arabs after feeling threatened. An initial investigation confirmed that he was assaulted by a group of Arabs while strolling in the Old City with a friend. The suspect, police say, fired a warning shot into the air, but when he saw that the assailants were not deterred he shot two of them, a 40-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy, beneath the waist.

 

The two Arabs, who are residents of east Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood, were evacuated with mild injuries to Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital. Relatives of one of the Arabs attacked a male nurse and a security guard at the hospital in response to the decision to transfer him to another hospital.

 

Following the incident, Silwan residents threw stones towards Jewish homes and police officers who were dispatched to the neighborhood. An Arab who was lightly injured in the incident was also taken to Hadassah Mount Scopus.

 

The shooter said during his interrogation that he was attacked by six people. He admitted to opening fire at them as they approached him, using a rifle in his possession.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.13.09, 07:59
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