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| Four killed in Jerusalem synagogue attack | Four killed in Jerusalem synagogue attack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two men armed with axes, knives and a pistol have killed four Israelis and wounded several others in a Jerusalem synagogue in the worst such attack in years. | Two men armed with axes, knives and a pistol have killed four Israelis and wounded several others in a Jerusalem synagogue in the worst such attack in years. |
| Two Palestinian assailants were killed in shootout with police at the scene, a synagogue in the ultra-orthodox Har Nof district of west Jerusalem where 25 had gathered for morning worship. One police officer was wounded in the exchange of fire. | Two Palestinian assailants were killed in shootout with police at the scene, a synagogue in the ultra-orthodox Har Nof district of west Jerusalem where 25 had gathered for morning worship. One police officer was wounded in the exchange of fire. |
| Witnesses described a bloodbath in an attack that has left Israel in shock. “I looked up and saw someone shooting people at point-blank range. Then someone came in with what looked like a butcher’s knife and he went wild,” a witness, Yosef Posternak, told Israel Radio. | Witnesses described a bloodbath in an attack that has left Israel in shock. “I looked up and saw someone shooting people at point-blank range. Then someone came in with what looked like a butcher’s knife and he went wild,” a witness, Yosef Posternak, told Israel Radio. |
| Violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories has surged over the past few weeks. However, attacks on synagogues are unusual in the history of the conflict. | Violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories has surged over the past few weeks. However, attacks on synagogues are unusual in the history of the conflict. |
| The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, called the attack a “brutal murder of Jews who came to pray” and blamed both the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, for incitement he said had led to the attack. | The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, called the attack a “brutal murder of Jews who came to pray” and blamed both the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, for incitement he said had led to the attack. |
| “This is the direct result of the incitement being led by Hamas and Abu Mazen, incitement which the international community is irresponsibly ignoring,” he said, according to a statement posted to his Facebook page | “This is the direct result of the incitement being led by Hamas and Abu Mazen, incitement which the international community is irresponsibly ignoring,” he said, according to a statement posted to his Facebook page |
| Netanyahu – who is to meet with his security chiefs on Tuesday afternoon – said Israel would “respond with a heavy hand” to the attack. | Netanyahu – who is to meet with his security chiefs on Tuesday afternoon – said Israel would “respond with a heavy hand” to the attack. |
| The US secretary of state, John Kerry, described the attack as an act of “pure terror” and called on Palestinian leaders to condemn it. | The US secretary of state, John Kerry, described the attack as an act of “pure terror” and called on Palestinian leaders to condemn it. |
| Hamas praised the attack as a “response to continued Israeli crimes” but stopped short of claiming responsibility. A statement from Abbas condemned the “attack on Jewish worshippers in their place of prayer” while calling for an end to Israeli “provocations” surrounding a contested holy site. | Hamas praised the attack as a “response to continued Israeli crimes” but stopped short of claiming responsibility. A statement from Abbas condemned the “attack on Jewish worshippers in their place of prayer” while calling for an end to Israeli “provocations” surrounding a contested holy site. |
| Israel and the Palestinians have blamed each other for the recent escalation of violence. | Israel and the Palestinians have blamed each other for the recent escalation of violence. |
| One of the victims was named in the Israeli media as Rabbi Moshe Twersky. The attackers were identified as cousins Ghassan Abu Jamal and Uday Abu Jamal from the Jabal Mukaber area of east Jerusalem. | |
| Witnesses described hearing “he” or “they’re coming out” in apparent references to the two as the men came out of the synagogue. One said he saw a man shot at the entrance but was unclear about whether the suspect was armed. Video showed police shooting into the synagogue entrance. | |
| Another eyewitness said she first heard gunshots, then more shooting when the police arrived. Police confirmed the deaths of the two attackers. | Another eyewitness said she first heard gunshots, then more shooting when the police arrived. Police confirmed the deaths of the two attackers. |
| Police confirm 4 Israelis killed in synagogue attack in Jerusalem. Both terrorist shot and killed by police. | Police confirm 4 Israelis killed in synagogue attack in Jerusalem. Both terrorist shot and killed by police. |
| A paramedic who arrived at the synagogue while the siege was going on described one of the victims drenched in blood after his chest had been repeatedly stabbed. | A paramedic who arrived at the synagogue while the siege was going on described one of the victims drenched in blood after his chest had been repeatedly stabbed. |
| As he went further into the synagogue, he said he heard sounds of shooting and saw another man lying in a pool of blood. | As he went further into the synagogue, he said he heard sounds of shooting and saw another man lying in a pool of blood. |
| Worshippers who were in the synagogue described the attackers coming towards them. “I tried to escape. The man with the knife approached me. There was a chair and table between us ... my prayer shawl got caught. I left it there and escaped,” a man who gave his name as Yossi told Israeli Channel 2 TV. | Worshippers who were in the synagogue described the attackers coming towards them. “I tried to escape. The man with the knife approached me. There was a chair and table between us ... my prayer shawl got caught. I left it there and escaped,” a man who gave his name as Yossi told Israeli Channel 2 TV. |
| Four of the wounded were reported in serious condition. | Four of the wounded were reported in serious condition. |
| Five Israelis and a foreign visitor have been deliberately run over and killed or stabbed to death by Palestinians in the past month. About a dozen Palestinians have also been killed, including those accused of carrying out those attacks. | Five Israelis and a foreign visitor have been deliberately run over and killed or stabbed to death by Palestinians in the past month. About a dozen Palestinians have also been killed, including those accused of carrying out those attacks. |
| Residents trace the violence in Jerusalem back to July when a Palestinian teenager was burned to death by Jewish assailants, an alleged revenge attack for the abduction and killing of three Jewish teens by Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank. | Residents trace the violence in Jerusalem back to July when a Palestinian teenager was burned to death by Jewish assailants, an alleged revenge attack for the abduction and killing of three Jewish teens by Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank. |
| The summer war in Gaza and a row over access to a Jerusalem compound sacred to Muslims and Jews alike have also been triggers for violence. | The summer war in Gaza and a row over access to a Jerusalem compound sacred to Muslims and Jews alike have also been triggers for violence. |