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Early this morning, we were subjected to yet another terror attack, this time in Tel Aviv.

Police lift the terrorist to the ambulance (Photo: Moti Kimchi). Yes, we treat even terrorists with dignity

A Palestinian attacker wounded eight Israelis near a Tel Aviv nightclub early Monday, slamming into a police checkpoint with a stolen taxi and then stabbing others, police said.

The attacker was a Palestinian in his twenties from the city of Nablus, according to police spokeswoman Luba Samri.

Just before 2 a.m., the attacker stole a taxi in south Tel Aviv and then drove into a police checkpoint securing the street near a popular nightclub, she said.

He then got out of the car and stabbed passers-by, she said, while shouting “Allahu akbar” – Arabic for “God is great,” a phrase often used as a battle-cry by Islamic terrorists.

The wounded included four policemen and three civilians, Samri said.

One of the eight people hurt was listed in a serious condition in hospital and the others suffered light to moderate injuries, Samri said.

The Palestinian told police that he had planned the attack in advance and chose the ‘Haoman 17’ nightclub, where over 1,000 revelers celebrated the end of the summer vacation. He also bought the knife and carefully planned the taxi attack. Only the police’s presence, he claimed, disrupted his plans.

At first, witnesses believed that it was a traffic accident but soon realized that it was a terrorist attack when the Palestinian exited the taxi and started stabbing passers-by.

The perpetrator managed to stab several individuals before he was restrained by police. He was lightly injured in the scuffle and taken to Wolfson Hospital in Holon.
 
Aharon Yampel, an Ihud-Hatzalah volunteer told Ynet, “When we arrived at the scene we saw several people hurt as they lay on the street with stab wounds. Others suffered injuries after they were hit by a car. We provided initial medical treatment at the scene until ambulances evacuated them to hospital.”

Elad, another eyewitness, recalled, “We suddenly heard a large boom. I saw the taxi slamming into another car and then a man came out and shouted ‘Allahu akbar’. He stabbed some people. There was yelling and a lot of noise until a police unit arrived and restrained him.”

Another witness by the name of Daniel said, “We were outside the club after they didn’t let us in. We saw a car that slammed into another car. It was scary. If it weren’t for the checkpoint, he would have made it straight to us. It’s a miracle. We had only gone out to have some fun.”

The cab driver whose car was stolen by the Palestinian also arrived at the scene and was questioned by police. “I picked him up in the Jaffa area. He asked to go to the central bus station. When we arrived he suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed me in the hand. He tossed me out of the vehicle and continued driving.”

According to the driver, at one point the Palestinian said, “I only want your car,” but then pulled out the knife. “I struggled with him but he managed to stab me.”

Tel Aviv police chief Aaron Aksol said, “There is no doubt that the border police checkpoint prevented a much graver catastrophe. Our preparedness following terrorist warnings has proven itself.”

Israel police chief Yohanan Danino also arrived at the scene of the attack and praised the border police preparedness. He explained that police forces were on alert ahead of the end of Ramadan and that’s why the checkpoint was set up near the nightclub.

Meanwhile, it could have been a lot worse. Checkpoints save lives.

About the author

Picture of David Lange

David Lange

A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
Picture of David Lange

David Lange

A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
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