NationStates Jolt Archive

At least 4 killed, 36 hurt in J'lem bulldozer terror attack
Jul. 2, 2008
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

At least four people were killed and 36 were wounded - two seriously, four moderately and 30 lightly - on Wednesday afternoon when a bulldozer driver went on a rampage in downtown Jerusalem.

Police said that the driver plowed his vehicle into two public buses, toppling them over, and slammed into several cars.

The driver was shot dead by an elite policeman, police said, adding that the incident was a terror attack. Police emphasized that the terrorist was carrying an Israeli identity card and was a resident of east Jerusalem.

Witnesses said the driver was killed after a brief struggle with two policemen.

One of the elite policeman was lightly wounded, apprently by gunfire, indicating that the terrorist was armed.

The attack, on the junction of Jaffa and Sha'arie Yisrael streets, set off a panic in the area. Dozens of people ran through the streets to flee the scene of the attack and a car was still stuck under the bulldozer. Police said it was unclear how many people were in the trapped vehicle.

The bulldozer was apparently being used for construction work on the Jerusalem light rail project.

It's a tragedy, as it is whenever anyone is killed.

Are you going to add some commentary to the OP, though? It's quite hard to know what else to say, otherwise.

Sad etc.

I have to say, whenever I see an unattended bulldozer, I have to fight the urge to cause some havoc.

Not to the point of killing anyone as such but I'd imagine it's hard to control a bulldozer if it's your first time driving.

Condolences etc.,

Is there a mental health crisis in Israel, with this and the airport suicide when Sarkhozy was visiting.?

There appears to be a 'violent idiot crisis'.

Been going on since at least the Crusades.

There appears to be a 'violent idiot crisis'.

Been going on since forever.
Fixed.

You know, I doubt that this was the work of any terrorist organization. I mean, a bulldozer rampage? After years of suicide bombings and rocket attacks? Until we have evidence that this was planned, I'm calling this one the work of a lone lunatic. And when I say "lunatic" I mean "guy who needs psychiatric help".

You know, I doubt that this was the work of any terrorist organization. I mean, a bulldozer rampage? After years of suicide bombings and rocket attacks? Until we have evidence that this was planned, I'm calling this one the work of a lone lunatic. And when I say "lunatic" I mean "guy who needs psychiatric help".

Agreed. It strikes me as a lone, random act, especially since none of the major groups, either Palestinian or Israeli, have spoken of it. Just a nut-job.

However, no doubt the Israelis will use this as an excuse to restrict Palestinian movements in East Jerusalem again, and that is going to cause a lot of grief.