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Bulldozer driver goes on rampage in Jerusalem, apparent copycat of recent deadly attack
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Israel, terror attack 

A Palestinian bulldozer driver went on a rampage in downtown Jerusalem on Tuesday, wounding at least 24 people, just weeks after a similar attack in the capital left three dead.

The driver was identified as a 22-year-old resident of East Jerusalem who held an Israeli ID card. Police sealed off possible escape routes into the predominantly Arab area of Jerusalem and were searching for two suspects who fled the scene, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

One of the wounded was in serious condition and the rest sustained light wounds. They were taken to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem for treatment.
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The driver of the tractor struck a bus and at least five cars before being shot dead by security forces, Jerusalem police said.

Television footage showed an elderly woman being wheeled into an ambulance and rescue personnel assisting visibly shocked passersby. A mother and her 9-month-old son were among the lightly wounded.

The copycat attack occurred on the corner of Keren Hayesdod and King David streets in downtown Jerusalem, down the road from the hotel where U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama was to be staying later in the day.

"The bulldozer driver left a construction site, and hit two cars," a police spokesman said. "A civilian who saw what was happening, shot him. The bulldozer continued on its way. A Border Police patrol... continued to shoot and the terrorist was killed."

An eyewitness said that the whole incident took place in less than a few minutes.

"One car flipped over and others were crushed. I started running in the direction of the tractor. People regained their composure within seconds. A guy from Susya, near southern Mount Hebron, shot him in the head and a few minutes later a Border Police officer shot him as well," the witness added.

The driver of the bus said he was chased by the assailant, who raised the shovel of his front-end loader.

"I was driving on the main road when the (construction vehicle) hit me in the rear, on the right hand side," driver Avi Levi said.

"After I passed him he turned round, made a U-turn and rammed the windows twice with the shovel. The third time he aimed for my head, he came up to my window and I swerved to the right, otherwise I would have gone to meet my maker," Levi said.

Witness Moshe Shimshi said the driver of the construction vehicle, who was wearing a large, white skullcap commonly worn by religious Muslims, slammed into the side of the bus, then sped away and went for a car.

"He didn't yell anything, he just kept ramming into cars," Shimshi said.

"The driver then headed for cars waiting at a red light and rammed into them with all his might," he added.

Shimshi said he stopped his motorcycle and ran toward the construction vehicle when he saw another man running at it from another direction.

The civilian who shot the terrorist that steered the bulldozer has been identified as Ya'akov Asahel, a 53-year-old resident of the West Bank settlement of Susya in the southern Hebron hills.

Asahel, a graduate of the Netiv Meir religious seminary, is also a platoon commander in the Israel Defense Forces' Armored Corps as well as one of the first settlers in the southern Hebron hills area. An agrarian by trade, he works as a gardener and a religious instructor in the high school yeshiva of the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, just outside of Hebron.

The head of the southern Hebron hills regional council, Zviki Bar Chai, himself a resident of Susya, said Asahel was an energetic type with a strong, athletic build. "He's a combination of an intellectual and a man tied to the land, a very assertive and special man," Bar Chai said. "A man of Torah and work."

On July 2, a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem plowed a bulldozer down Jaffa Road, Jerusalem's main thoroughfare, killing three people. He was not known to be affiliated with any Palestinian militant group.

"This was another attempt to murder innocent people in a senseless act of terrorism," said government spokesman Mark Regev. "All people who believe in peace and reconciliation must unequivocally condemn this attack. Unfortunately, it is clear that we as a society will have to remain vigilant against terrorism."

Minutes after the attack, the driver, wearing shorts and black shoes, was sprawled backward in the construction vehicle's cabin, his legs dangling lifelessly.

Firetrucks had massed at the scene, where the smell of gas was wafting and liquid had spilled on the ground.

Sirens wailed in the background, and a police helicopter hovered overhead.

Emergency numbers:
Shaare Tzedek Hospital: 12-55-125
Jerusalem municipality hotline: 12-55-023-106

Related articles on Jerusalem attack earlier this month:
  • Barak: Israel must respond immediately to Jerusalem attack
  • Bulldozer plows into crowded bus on Jaffa Street
  • Police conclude Jerusalem bulldozer killer acted alone
  • A junkie and a martyr
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      1.   Deleted by moderator 14:39  |  Palestinian in UK 22/07/08
      2.   Deleted by moderator 14:39  |  Genuine Tosefta 22/07/08
      3.   Deleted by moderator 14:51  |  Leo 22/07/08
      4.   The Chanalau Penomenon will again blame the Jewish victims 14:51  |  Genuine Tosefta 22/07/08
      5.   Deleted by moderator 14:52  |  David P 22/07/08
      6.   It isn`t rocket science 14:53  |  Leo 22/07/08
      7.   Fast thinking saves lives! 14:54  |  Michael J 22/07/08
      8.   One for the money, two for the show... 14:56  |  hanoi 22/07/08
      9.   No Arab dignity 15:02  |  s 22/07/08
      10.   Twin towers, twin bulldozers 15:03  |  Discoverer 22/07/08
      11.   Luckily, there were not too many victims 15:03  |  Outsider 22/07/08
      12.   Send his whole extended family to Gaza 15:07  |  John 22/07/08
      13.   Wrong policies 15:09  |  Pierre 22/07/08
      14.   What Do We Arabs Gain? 15:09  |  E. Jerusalem Arab 22/07/08
      15.   Terrorism returns to Jerusalem 15:10  |  x-ray 22/07/08
      16.   The follow up will be no surprise 15:11  |  Arie 22/07/08
      17.   Preventable 15:12  |  Jewish Escobar 22/07/08
      18.   Patience... 15:14  |  Joshua 22/07/08
      19.   finally - Deletions! 15:19  |  saus 22/07/08
      20.   If... 15:21  |  Arie 22/07/08
      21.   I´ts about time to endure and thrown out peace efforts 15:22  |  JP 22/07/08
      22.   Knock-on effect 15:25  |  Jon 22/07/08
      23.   It is really sad, but I am wondering why? 15:25  |  Persian Hero 22/07/08
      24.   Progress 15:33  |  Eldar 22/07/08
      25.   My condolences 15:34  |  Steve 22/07/08
      26.   Israel Playing By the Rules. the Arabs Dont 15:35  |  Dave Levy 22/07/08
      27.   Its sad but worth asking why 15:42  |  HH 22/07/08
      28.   Wow! what was this man thinking? 15:44  |  Robert 22/07/08
      29.   Fast , Healthy Recovery To The Wounded , 15:49  |  Joseph.E 22/07/08
      30.   #14 Joshua & #19 Steve 15:50  |  MR 22/07/08
      31.   #18 Answer- Persian Hero 15:52  |  THK 22/07/08
      32.   AGAIN?!?!?! 15:54  |  Marzia 22/07/08
      33.   What happened to the govt promises to stop this insanity 15:57  |  Adam 22/07/08
      34.   To No.12 "Send his whole family to Gaza 16:00  |  Ana 22/07/08
      35.   #18 what makes a human do this 16:00  |  Victoria 22/07/08
      36.   Police chief: The bulldozer driver had a criminal record 16:01  |  Lebanese in Canada 22/07/08
      37.   think a bit 16:06  |  Sara 22/07/08
      38.   Predictable and Preventable 16:14  |  guy 22/07/08
      39.   Persian hero is right 16:16  |  Matthew 22/07/08
      40.   #18 Good question... 16:18  |  Ron 22/07/08
      41.   Answer to persian hero 16:19  |  Abu Yusuf 22/07/08
      42.   british professors will now sing praises of caterpillar 16:19  |  POP 22/07/08
      43.   Sara & background checks 16:24  |  michelle 22/07/08
      44.   fire & brimstone blaring instead of mosque prayers 16:31  |  jew living in E.Jer 22/07/08
      45.   *27 Lebanese in Canada 16:32  |  mark hammond 22/07/08
      46.   desperate man see so short 16:32  |  Keops 22/07/08
      47.   Our enemies are inventive 16:37  |  Nephtaly 22/07/08
      48.   Oh me God.... not again...!!! 16:43  |  Esther 22/07/08
      49.   #26 Victoria 16:46  |  Persian Hero 22/07/08
      50.   To "Persian Hero"?- no need to wonder 16:49  |  Arie 22/07/08
      51.   bulldozer driver 16:50  |  yona schear 22/07/08
      52.   #18 - Islam? 17:03  |  Johnny 22/07/08
      53.   20% of opinions `Deleted by moderator` 17:03  |  Ulf 22/07/08
      54.   It hurts other Palestinians 17:05  |  Ben 22/07/08
      55.   #32 Persian Hero 17:11  |  Victoria 22/07/08
      56.   No respect for the holiness of Jerusalem! 17:13  |  Paul Henzen 22/07/08
      57.   They just can`t stop doing themselves disservice 17:24  |  Steve E. 22/07/08
      58.   PA to divest from CAT 17:28  |  Fish 22/07/08
      59.   I am a palestinian 17:31  |  Ron 22/07/08
      60.   kick his whole family to Gaza 17:32  |  ross 22/07/08
      61.   Time for a new Government 17:38  |  Moshe Benzaquen 22/07/08
      62.   Re Victiria #27 17:40  |  Esther 22/07/08
      63.   Where are the btselem cameras?? 17:45  |  Arie 22/07/08
      64.   re Paul Henzen #37 `No respect` 17:49  |  Colin Wright 22/07/08
      65.   To #36 17:50  |  Moe 22/07/08
      66.   Not just out-of-the-blue.... 17:51  |  Esther 22/07/08
      67.   Enforce the law! 17:56  |  Jean Van Daem 22/07/08
      68.   #33 persian hero 18:02  |  Realist 22/07/08
      69.   #28 Lebanese in Canada Not quite true 18:04  |  Robert/Montreal 22/07/08
      70.   Re: Joshua 18:26  |  Irena 22/07/08
      71.   Driving the Wrong Way 18:26  |  Tzfonit 22/07/08
      72.   Arie - forget btselem, where is the Arab condemnation? 18:29  |  David Israel 22/07/08
      73.   Re: BaGolan, number 39 18:30  |  Irina 22/07/08
      74.   Re: John, number 12 18:40  |  Irena 22/07/08
      75.   Persian Hero 26 you should remember that your country... 18:47  |  Realist 22/07/08
      76.   Sad this is happening. but why it did? 18:49  |  Elias 22/07/08
      77.   To yona schear # 34 18:51  |  dovale 22/07/08
      78.   only one solution for this problem 18:55  |  chaim 22/07/08
      79.   #38 Esther 18:59  |  Victoria 22/07/08
      80.   Deterrence 19:02  |  ChanahS 22/07/08
      81.   Throw out the Jews and bring in the arabs = Desaster 19:04  |  Harry 22/07/08
      82.   Equation is simple.Random terror =escalating security measures 19:11  |  Sam 22/07/08
      83.   To David Israel-thanks, I needed a good laugh 19:18  |  Arie 22/07/08
      84.   Yeah, And Now Guess What? 19:30  |  Jeff Northridge 22/07/08
      85.   Best wishes to the wounded 19:31  |  KUTW 22/07/08
      86.   Pal workers are dangerous 19:37  |  KUTW 22/07/08
      87.   Pal workers are dangerous 19:38  |  KUTW 22/07/08
      88.   Let`s not wait for a third bulldozer attack 19:45  |  Jeremy 22/07/08
      89.   #35, Johnny 19:52  |  Persian Hero 22/07/08
      90.   Victoria # 45 19:55  |  ChanahS 22/07/08
      91.   Palestinian with Israeli ID ? 20:00  |  DISRAELI 22/07/08
      92.   Re:#34 20:09  |  Irena 22/07/08
      93.   Re:#47 20:18  |  Irena 22/07/08
      94.   THIRD TRY, HAARETZ! 20:19  |  MR 22/07/08
      95.   Discoverer # 10 one has nothing to do with the other 20:25  |  American in NY 22/07/08
      96.   David Israel 20:27  |  ChanahS 22/07/08
      97.   That`s not a bulldozer 20:32  |  Aphemia 22/07/08
      98.   I wounder what the Jews will do if they are in the Pal.place 20:38  |  gus 22/07/08
      99.   David Israel # 42 He must have learned to drive bulldozers 20:40  |  American in NY 22/07/08
      100.   Citizens shooting other citizens 20:49  |  Natallie Durson 22/07/08
      101.   answer to #18 and #21 20:50  |  Bronxite10 22/07/08
      102.   Listen, look, and think to what you have made us to be 20:53  |  ahmad abouali 22/07/08
      103.   This is how the Palestine News Network reported it 20:58  |  Jeremy 22/07/08
      104.   Sadly, such attacks cannot be avoided 21:08  |  Benjamina 22/07/08
      105.   Terror Attack 21:09  |  Scottish Lady 22/07/08
      106.   bulldozer driver kills 21:13  |  joanne 22/07/08
      107.   Did you see the video??? 21:16  |  Absolute Israel 22/07/08
      108.   Again what we see here are the sesults of a perverted 21:20  |  Jew- and Bookburner 22/07/08
      109.   Picture this 21:20  |  Steve 22/07/08
      110.   DISRAELI # 47 Israeli ID Cards 21:25  |  Jeff Northridge 22/07/08
      111.   Natallie Duhson! 21:29  |  ChanahS 22/07/08
      112.   @Natallie Durson 21:44  |  Ralph 22/07/08
      113.   ahmad abouali - forget it! (1) 21:45  |  ChanahS 22/07/08
      114.   Another one 21:47  |  Adrian de Klerk 22/07/08
      115.   ahmad abouali (2) 21:48  |  22/07/08
      116.   Jeremy - what a shame....... 21:50  |  ChanahS 22/07/08
      117.   joanne - 69 21:52  |  ChanahS 22/07/08
      118.   Now for the pre-recorded post attack messages 21:53  |  N. 22/07/08
      119.   Gus, the way to justice for you is simple: organize yourself 21:54  |  Jew- and Bookburner 22/07/08
      120.   To #63 21:54  |  John 22/07/08
      121.   @18 what happened to you to hang men because they are gay 22:06  |  Jew- and Bookburner 22/07/08
      122.   #74 Jeff Northirdge, #57 Disraeli -- please answer 22:11  |  Joe Camel 22/07/08
      123.   #64 Persian Hero - On brutal messages in koran 22:18  |  Johnny 22/07/08
      124.   re: No Arab Dignity -- BINGO 22:30  |  dsharon 22/07/08
      125.   why are civilians standing around? 22:37  |  honey bunch 22/07/08
      126.   Segregation of arabs or no end of terror 22:50  |  JP 22/07/08
      127.   It`s a BACKHOE not a BULLDOZER 22:56  |  Harold 22/07/08
      128.   yawn. something about 40 years of occupation makes me not care 23:02  |  POP 22/07/08
      129.   #97, Johnny 23:06  |  Persian Hero 22/07/08
      130.   Re:#78 "Blah-Blah-Blah" 23:08  |  Irena 22/07/08
      131.   Harold´s non-bulldozer 23:08  |  Joe Camel 22/07/08
      132.   Yes Harald that really makes a difference 23:11  |  x-ray 22/07/08
      133.   Dead is Dead. And THAT is a GOOD thing! 23:22  |  Gideon Reader 22/07/08
      134.   Did anyone think the first bulldozer had ended it? 23:24  |  TonyL 22/07/08
      135.   To POP 23:30  |  Irena 22/07/08
      136.   One less Palestinian on the payroll..... 23:31  |  Avrum 22/07/08
      137.   the left still talks about 23:33  |  jerry 22/07/08
      138.   #92 Ralph 23:39  |  Labhras 22/07/08
      139.   Natallie Durson # 75 Justified Homicide 23:41  |  Jeff Northridge 22/07/08
      140.   CNN gets it right 23:48  |  Harold 22/07/08
      141.   #106 POP - since yo don`t care 00:13  |  POP"S KEEPER 23/07/08
      142.   Durson 00:16  |  Sank 23/07/08
      143.   Ahmad 00:21  |  judith 23/07/08
      144.   message to obama 00:26  |  reuven 23/07/08
      145.   Re Natallie #80 00:26  |  Esther 23/07/08
      146.   #106 POP - the Weasel 00:34  |  Bronxite10 23/07/08
      147.   War is a Bull Market 00:36  |  Zev Percowitz 23/07/08
      148.   ahmad abouali 00:43  |  utagawa 23/07/08
      149.   Did he or did he not receive IDF Dozer operator tarining ? 00:56  |  American in NY 23/07/08
      150.   pop 01:02  |  alan 23/07/08
      151.   Persian Hero wonders... 01:03  |  dsharon 23/07/08
      152.   ahmad abouali 82 01:04  |  alan 23/07/08
      153.   Israeli bulldozer attack 01:07  |  Reeva Solomon 23/07/08
      154.   IDF Bulldozer drivers have set a precedence. 01:11  |  Maureen Ann 23/07/08
      155.   Gus...missing something MAJOR 01:30  |  Dan 23/07/08
      156.   guess what pop @ 106 01:33  |  ChanahS 23/07/08
      157.   MAUREEN IDF gives warning before destroying military .Your side? 01:35  |  PETER SM 23/07/08
      158.   Maureen Ann 113 01:36  |  ChanahS 23/07/08
      159.   #39 Ron the Palestinian 01:40  |  Conroy 23/07/08
      160.   POP40 years.! why did your side reject peace 40 years ago? 01:42  |  PETER SM 23/07/08
      161.   ARAB apologists Scream "collective punishment" all you like! 01:46  |  PETER SM 23/07/08
      162.   Who is the Moderator? 01:48  |  Reader 23/07/08
      163.   They Must Go! 02:03  |  Jack 23/07/08
      164.   NutAlie Dursham @80 02:08  |  GABE1 23/07/08
      165.   Moron Ann @113 02:10  |  GABE1 23/07/08
      166.   Terrorists 02:10  |  steve 23/07/08
      167.   maureen ann - i didn`t notice anyone jumping in front 02:22  |  natan 23/07/08
      168.   reaction will be predictable 02:23  |  joki 23/07/08
      169.   Esther # 42 02:25  |  Philippe 23/07/08
      170.   Stop the coverage! 03:15  |  Mark Marshall 23/07/08
      171.   # 18 Persian Hero 03:27  |  17 23/07/08
      172.   HEROIC SETTLERS ARE THE MODERN ZIONIST PIONEERS 03:39  |  Trumpeldor 23/07/08
      173.   #PeterSM&Co. You can`t see the WW3 train that you are pushing... 04:34  |  Maureen Ann 23/07/08
      174.   What is the "BULLDOZER" if not a collective punishment ! 04:36  |  Akram Zekaria 23/07/08
      175.   Reeva Solomon 118 Loved teh Hypocrisy of your post 04:54  |  American in NY 23/07/08
      176.   Dammned Dozers 05:05  |  BrunoBenjaminBryvsk 23/07/08
      177.   This is zionism`s worse nightmare...... 05:10  |  Johnboy 23/07/08
      178.   JOHNBOY your worst nightmare.Arabs getting it back with interest 05:46  |  PETER SM 23/07/08
      179.   The viciousness of the bulldozer backfires on Israelis. 05:47  |  Dutch 23/07/08
      180.   Johnboy, Re: Zionism` worst nightmare ? 08:31  |  Dutch 23/07/08
      181.   #151 PETER SM, I am not *condoning* this act 09:20  |  Johnboy 23/07/08
      182.   #178 I hate to say "I told you so", PETER SM 14:32  |  Johnboy 23/07/08
      183.   #177 johnboy PRESENTS another "ORIGINAL" conclusion (hahaha) 11:07  |  CK Tan 24/07/08
      184.   What Ignorance, My Dear Durson 13:48  |  Douglas Fireman 24/07/08
      185.   Dutch`s Remote Control Idea 14:41  |  Douglas Fireman 24/07/08
      186.   #177 Johnboy - REVOKE the I.D. cards 00:38  |  * BEN JABO 25/07/08
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