The terrorist
Terrorist's sister: 'It's the most beautiful martyrdom'
Fadi Al-Qunbar, the terrorist who called out the truck-ramming attack in the capital on Sunday, is lauded by his sister for his actions; she denies having possessed any foreknowledge of his actions and a possible connection to ISIS.
The sister of Fadi Ahmad Al-Qunbar, who carried out the truck-ramming attack in Jerusalem on Sunday that killed four and wounded 17, welcomed the news of her brother's act of terrorism later in the day.
After learning of her 28-year-old brother's having slain one officer and three cadets in the IDF officers' training course in East Talpiot, also known as Armon Hanatziv, in the capital, Al-Qunbar's sister commented, "Praise be to God that he became a martyr. It's the most beautiful martyrdom."
Fadi Al-Qunbar
His sister said that following the attack, police forces arrived at the family's home. "We realized he did it when we saw a picture of his truck on Facebook," she said. "The police told us what he did and removed us from the house." She relayed that the police took down the names of all the family members.
Terrorist's family watches footage of his attack
Responding to claims that he was affiliated to a terrorist group, she said, "He didn't belong to any group or political movement. He carried out the attack on his own.
Soldiers shortly after the attack (Photo: AFP)
His sister said that following the attack, police forces arrived at the family's home. "We realized he did it when we saw a picture of his truck on Facebook," she said. "The police told us what he did and removed us from the house." She relayed that the police took down the names of all the family members.
The truck used in the attack (Photo: AFP)
So far, nine suspects have been arrested on suspicion of being linked to the attack. Five of them are family members of Al-Qunbar. A preliminary investigation found that he had not been arrested or served jail time for any security offenses. His personal belongings are currently being examined to see whether he was affiliated with international terrorist group ISIS.
Al-Qunbar's sister added that her brother was a devout religious man who was married with four children.
Soldiers comforting one another at the scene of the attack (Photo: AFP)
Visiting the scene of the attack on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "according to all the signs, he was a supporter of ISIS."
Responding to claims that he was affiliated to a terrorist group, she said, "He didn't belong to any group or political movement. He carried out the attack on his own. Praise the Lord for him becoming a shahid. It is the most beautiful kind of saintly death."
Hamas praised the attack, trying to get #TruckIntifada trending on Twitter and handing out sweets in Gaza to celebrate it.
Distributing sweets in Gaza after the attack
"This truck attack shows that any attempt to put a stop to the resistance will fail," Hamas's military wing wrote on Twitter.
Hamas spokesman Abdul-Latif Qanou called it a "heroic" act and encouraged other Palestinians to do the same and "escalate the resistance." Qanou says Sunday's attack proves the wave of Palestinian violence has not ended, despite a recent lull. He says "it may be quiet, it may linger, but it will never end."
