VZCZCXRO7279
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1671 2221427
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101427Z AUG 07
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8651
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001671
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC IS KDEM KWBG PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM OLD CITY SHOOTING
1. (U) At approximately 11:15 a.m. local time August 10, an
unknown Palestinian male assaulted an Israeli security guard,
took his firearm, and shot him in the shoulder at an Ateret
Kohanim yeshiva in Jerusalem's Old City Christian Quarter,
according to Israeli press. A second security guard chased
the attacker through the Old City and killed him. Press
reported that eight to eleven people were wounded during the
chase by shots and ricocheting bullets. According to initial
reports received by ACS, no U.S. citizens were involved in
the incident.
2. (U) Press reported that police raised the alert level in
the Old City and that Jaffa Gate was closed immediately
following the attack. Magen David Adom rescue services
transported the injured to hospitals. Four reportedly
received medium injuries, and the rest were injured lightly.
3. (U) Security sources reported publicly that the attacker
was approximately 20 years old and carried no identification.
Shin Bet and the police are attempting to locate his family.
A witness told Israel Radio that the guard continued
shooting after it was clear that the attacker had been
killed, but Jerusalem District Police Commander Aharon Franco
defended the guard's response as "professional".
Commissioner of Israeli Police Dudi Cohen said after police
had been deployed throughout the Old City that East Jerusalem
was at maximum security and safe for visitors.
4. (U) RSO sent out an SMS message to all Consulate
employees and eligible family members instructing them to
stay out of the Old City until the end of the day.
WALLES