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Israelis hit by new digger attack | Israelis hit by new digger attack |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A Palestinian in a mechanical digger has rammed traffic in west Jerusalem, injuring at least 10 people before being shot dead, Israeli police say. | A Palestinian in a mechanical digger has rammed traffic in west Jerusalem, injuring at least 10 people before being shot dead, Israeli police say. |
A bus and a number of cars were hit during the incident. Some cars were crushed and one was turned on its roof. | A bus and a number of cars were hit during the incident. Some cars were crushed and one was turned on its roof. |
Witnesses say an armed civilian first shot at the driver, before he was killed by border police. | Witnesses say an armed civilian first shot at the driver, before he was killed by border police. |
Three weeks ago a Palestinian man went on a deadly rampage in a heavy vehicle in Jerusalem, killing three Israelis. | Three weeks ago a Palestinian man went on a deadly rampage in a heavy vehicle in Jerusalem, killing three Israelis. |
A BBC correspondent says it is thought the 2 July attacker was simply a disturbed man without political motivation - but Israelis will worry Tuesday's incident was a copycat attack and that this could now be a new tactic. | A BBC correspondent says it is thought the 2 July attacker was simply a disturbed man without political motivation - but Israelis will worry Tuesday's incident was a copycat attack and that this could now be a new tactic. |
Police identified the perpetrator as 22-year-old East Jerusalem resident Ghassan Abu Tir. It is not known if he was connected to any militant group. | Police identified the perpetrator as 22-year-old East Jerusalem resident Ghassan Abu Tir. It is not known if he was connected to any militant group. |
Gunshots | Gunshots |
The latest attack took place in a busy part of central West Jerusalem, close to the King David Hotel where US presidential candidate Barack Obama will be arriving within hours. | The latest attack took place in a busy part of central West Jerusalem, close to the King David Hotel where US presidential candidate Barack Obama will be arriving within hours. |
I saw the tractor going into a bus four or five times. All the windows of the bus exploded Yohanan Levine class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7520369.stm">'I saw into digger driver's eyes' | |
As the incident was unfolding, Israeli President Shimon Peres was for the first time receiving Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at his official residence in Jerusalem, which is also nearby. | |
"I was going home when I saw the tractor going into a bus four or five times. All the windows of the bus exploded," said a 16-year-old Israeli at the scene. | "I was going home when I saw the tractor going into a bus four or five times. All the windows of the bus exploded," said a 16-year-old Israeli at the scene. |
"Then I saw the tractor going down the street pushing cars. I saw more people running and after two minutes I heard two or three gunshots," Yohanan Levine added. | "Then I saw the tractor going down the street pushing cars. I saw more people running and after two minutes I heard two or three gunshots," Yohanan Levine added. |
A driver interviewed by Israeli TV said his car was rammed twice by the front shovel of the digger and he only just managed to swerve to avoid a third charge aimed at his head. | A driver interviewed by Israeli TV said his car was rammed twice by the front shovel of the digger and he only just managed to swerve to avoid a third charge aimed at his head. |
Photographs of the immediate aftermath show the driver's body slumped in the cab and at least eight bullet holes in the glass next to him. | Photographs of the immediate aftermath show the driver's body slumped in the cab and at least eight bullet holes in the glass next to him. |
Official visit | Official visit |
Israeli police called it a "terror attack", although there was no immediate claim of responsibility by any Palestinian militant organisation. | Israeli police called it a "terror attack", although there was no immediate claim of responsibility by any Palestinian militant organisation. |
Police said the driver was from a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank which Israel has designated part of the enlarged Jerusalem municipality. | Police said the driver was from a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank which Israel has designated part of the enlarged Jerusalem municipality. |
Mr Abbas told reporters he "condemned and rejected" the attack and said such incidents "hurt our reputation and peace in general". | Mr Abbas told reporters he "condemned and rejected" the attack and said such incidents "hurt our reputation and peace in general". |
It was the first time a Palestinian Authority president had visited the Israeli presidential residence, known as Beit Hanasi. | It was the first time a Palestinian Authority president had visited the Israeli presidential residence, known as Beit Hanasi. |
Mr Abbas was welcomed in a formal ceremony with Palestinian flags flying at the reception point. Such trappings are normally absent when Mr Abbas meets Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at his official residence. | Mr Abbas was welcomed in a formal ceremony with Palestinian flags flying at the reception point. Such trappings are normally absent when Mr Abbas meets Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at his official residence. |
In his remarks, Mr Peres said: "Israelis have a burning desire to reach peace with the Palestinians." | In his remarks, Mr Peres said: "Israelis have a burning desire to reach peace with the Palestinians." |
Mr Abbas has been meeting Israeli leaders regularly since attempts were made to give the peace process fresh impetus at an international conference in the United States last November. | Mr Abbas has been meeting Israeli leaders regularly since attempts were made to give the peace process fresh impetus at an international conference in the United States last November. |