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| Shooting attack at Jerusalem holy site forces cancellation of Friday prayers | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three gunmen have been shot dead during a shootout at the entrance to the flashpoint Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif complex in Jerusalem, during an attack in which two Israelis were critically wounded. | Three gunmen have been shot dead during a shootout at the entrance to the flashpoint Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif complex in Jerusalem, during an attack in which two Israelis were critically wounded. |
| Some reports in the Israeli media suggested the attackers were Israeli Arabs, citizens of the town of Umm al-Fahm, although that was not immediately confirmed by police. | Some reports in the Israeli media suggested the attackers were Israeli Arabs, citizens of the town of Umm al-Fahm, although that was not immediately confirmed by police. |
| In the immediate aftermath of the incident the area was cleared of visitors and closed, with police announcing that Muslim Friday prayers, usually attended by thousands, would be cancelled for the first time in 17 years. | |
| According to first reports by Israeli police, the three assailants, armed with two homemade Carlo submachine guns and a hand gun, shot at several police officers near the Lion’s Gate entrance to the site, before running into the compound. | According to first reports by Israeli police, the three assailants, armed with two homemade Carlo submachine guns and a hand gun, shot at several police officers near the Lion’s Gate entrance to the site, before running into the compound. |
| “When they saw policemen they shot towards them and then escaped towards one of the mosques in the Temple Mount compound,” police spokesman Luba Samri said. “A chase ensued and the three terrorists were killed by police.” | “When they saw policemen they shot towards them and then escaped towards one of the mosques in the Temple Mount compound,” police spokesman Luba Samri said. “A chase ensued and the three terrorists were killed by police.” |
| Mobile phone video footage aired by Israeli media showed several police officers chasing a man and shooting him down at the site, which is a popular place for foreign tourists to visit. Israeli authorities are still working to identify the attackers, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. | Mobile phone video footage aired by Israeli media showed several police officers chasing a man and shooting him down at the site, which is a popular place for foreign tourists to visit. Israeli authorities are still working to identify the attackers, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. |
| The suspicion that the attackers were Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin was raised by documents found on the bodies, including ID cards and a driving licence, which police were checking to see if they were genuine. | The suspicion that the attackers were Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin was raised by documents found on the bodies, including ID cards and a driving licence, which police were checking to see if they were genuine. |
| The site, which houses the al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, and the seventh-century Dome of the Rock, is also revered by Jews as the site of the historic Temple. | The site, which houses the al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, and the seventh-century Dome of the Rock, is also revered by Jews as the site of the historic Temple. |
| Police said the three attackers were killed by security forces. The Israeli ambulance service Magen David Adom said two of the Israelis wounded were receiving life-saving treatment. | Police said the three attackers were killed by security forces. The Israeli ambulance service Magen David Adom said two of the Israelis wounded were receiving life-saving treatment. |
| The incident comes ahead of a reported move by the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu to allow Israeli MPs – who are currently not allowed to go to the flashpoint site – to visit the Temple Mount on a trial basis. | The incident comes ahead of a reported move by the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu to allow Israeli MPs – who are currently not allowed to go to the flashpoint site – to visit the Temple Mount on a trial basis. |
| Israel’s public security minister Gilad Erdan said: “The terror attack today is a severe and dire event in which all red lines have been crossed. The attack is still under investigation and will force us to look into existing security arrangements at Temple Mount and in its vicinity. | Israel’s public security minister Gilad Erdan said: “The terror attack today is a severe and dire event in which all red lines have been crossed. The attack is still under investigation and will force us to look into existing security arrangements at Temple Mount and in its vicinity. |
| “I call on all public figures to do all in their power to calm the situation and keep the peace,” he added. | “I call on all public figures to do all in their power to calm the situation and keep the peace,” he added. |
| A wave of Palestinian street attacks that began in 2015 has slowed but not stopped. Since September 2015, Palestinian attackers have killed 43 Israelis, two visiting Americans and a British tourist. | A wave of Palestinian street attacks that began in 2015 has slowed but not stopped. Since September 2015, Palestinian attackers have killed 43 Israelis, two visiting Americans and a British tourist. |
| In that time, Israeli forces have killed more than 254 Palestinians, most of them said by Israel to be attackers. | In that time, Israeli forces have killed more than 254 Palestinians, most of them said by Israel to be attackers. |
| This is a breaking story. More details to follow. | This is a breaking story. More details to follow. |