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'New digger rampage' in Jerusalem | 'New digger rampage' in Jerusalem |
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The driver of a construction vehicle in West Jerusalem has been shot dead by police after he rammed a police car. | The driver of a construction vehicle in West Jerusalem has been shot dead by police after he rammed a police car. |
Israeli police say they are treating it as a terrorist attack. It echoes two such incidents in July 2008 involving Palestinian construction workers. | Israeli police say they are treating it as a terrorist attack. It echoes two such incidents in July 2008 involving Palestinian construction workers. |
Witnesses described the front-end loader speeding along a West Jerusalem road dragging the police car. | Witnesses described the front-end loader speeding along a West Jerusalem road dragging the police car. |
Tensions are currently very high between Israelis and Palestinians after Israel's military offensive in Gaza. | Tensions are currently very high between Israelis and Palestinians after Israel's military offensive in Gaza. |
A taxi driver told Israeli radio: "I saw the police car fly into the air. He flipped it over twice, then continued dragging it toward a bus that was stuck in traffic." | A taxi driver told Israeli radio: "I saw the police car fly into the air. He flipped it over twice, then continued dragging it toward a bus that was stuck in traffic." |
He said he had fired four shots at the driver, "then a policeman came with his M-16 [automatic rifle] and finished him off". | He said he had fired four shots at the driver, "then a policeman came with his M-16 [automatic rifle] and finished him off". |
The driver - who has not been identified - was taken to hospital by ambulance and was declared dead on arrival. | The driver - who has not been identified - was taken to hospital by ambulance and was declared dead on arrival. |
The incident happened in Malha on the main Begin Highway which connects north and south Jerusalem. | The incident happened in Malha on the main Begin Highway which connects north and south Jerusalem. |
There was no immediate claim of responsibility and police said the man was not carrying identification. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility and police said the man was not carrying identification. |
Earlier attacks | |
In July last year, a Palestinian killed three Israelis and wounded 45 more when he rammed the front-end loader he was driving into buses and cars in Jaffa Street, before being shot dead. | In July last year, a Palestinian killed three Israelis and wounded 45 more when he rammed the front-end loader he was driving into buses and cars in Jaffa Street, before being shot dead. |
Three weeks later 16 people were wounded in a similar incident, and the attacker also killed. | Three weeks later 16 people were wounded in a similar incident, and the attacker also killed. |
In September, a Palestinian driver rammed his car into a crowd of Israeli soldiers, wounding 19 people. He too was shot dead, although relatives denied it had been a deliberate attack. | In September, a Palestinian driver rammed his car into a crowd of Israeli soldiers, wounding 19 people. He too was shot dead, although relatives denied it had been a deliberate attack. |
Suicide bomb attacks in Jerusalem by militants from the West Bank have been greatly reduced after reaching a peak in the early 2000s. | Suicide bomb attacks in Jerusalem by militants from the West Bank have been greatly reduced after reaching a peak in the early 2000s. |
Recent attacks appear to have been launched mostly by individuals from mainly-Arab East Jerusalem. | Recent attacks appear to have been launched mostly by individuals from mainly-Arab East Jerusalem. |
Earlier on Thursday Israeli warplanes bombed the Gaza Strip, killing two militants, bringing to four the number killed by Israel in less than 24 hours. | Earlier on Thursday Israeli warplanes bombed the Gaza Strip, killing two militants, bringing to four the number killed by Israel in less than 24 hours. |