Tourist stabs police, priests in Old City church

by Dan Slobodkin

A policeman shot and seriously wounded a British tourist after he drew a knife on officers and priests at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City’s Christian Quarter, police said.

“The man in his 40s was seriously wounded by shots from a policeman on Friday evening after he attempted to stab priests and police,” spokesman Shmulik Ben Rubi said. Police did not give the suspect’s name but said he had bought the knife in a street market in the Old City.

No motive was given for the attack, which took place some 12 hours after the suspect landed in the country.

Officers used pepper spray but failed to deter the suspect, who was reportedly shot four times in the upper body and was evacuated in serious condition to Hadassa University Hospital, Ein Karem.

A police statement said the officer had opened fire “as set out in directives for law and order authorities in cases of aggression.”

Tags: Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Old City, stabbing