Security guards shoot Palestinian at West Bank checkpoint

Security guards Monday shot a Palestinian after he ignored their orders to halt, wounding his leg, at the Tarqumiya checkpoint near Hebron.

Defense Ministry sources said the guards suspected the 60-year-old man was a suicide bomber.

The sources said the guards called to the man, who was wearing a coat and carrying packages, to stop but he continued walking toward them.

They shot in the air and when he still didn't stop shot him in the leg, the sources said. At this point he threw down the packages and opened his coat to show he was not armed or wearing explosives.

He was taken to a Hebron hospital lightly wounded. The Tarqumiya junction is guarded by a private security company.