Man hurt in central Israel stabbing; police hunting attacker
A relative of the victim - who was taken to a hospital in a moderate condition - says the 'Arab terrorist' shouted Allahu Akbar' as he stabbed the 46-year-old three times; police say all motives are being investigated
One person was moderately hurt Wednesday morning in a stabbing attack in central Israeli city of Ramat Hasharon. The attack might have been nationalistically motivated after a victim’s relative said the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he stabbed him.
The 46-year-old victim sustained moderate wounds to his upper body and was taken to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. The hospital said the victim is fully conscious and is in a stable condition.
“He went out on a morning run … an Arab terrorist ran after him in the HaMelacha Street, shouted Allahu Akbar and stabbed him three times,” said the relative in an interview with Ynet.
"I know the Shin Bet people are with him, and they have pictures of the terrorist. I hope the terrorist will be caught soon." he said. “It is inconceivable that someone simply walking down the street in Ramat Hasharon is getting stabbed in the back.”
Police launched a manhunt for the attacker who fled the scene, setting up roadblocks and dispatching large numbers of officers to search the area. A police helicopter was also deployed to help with the search and the southbound lanes of Route 4 were also closed in the area of the Mesubim interchange.
The commander of the Glilot Police Station in central Israel, Chief Superintendent Yitzhak Manch said all motives for the attack are being investigated. “The investigation isn’t moving into a specific direction at the moment,” he said. “
“We ask the public to help us locate the suspect. Anyone who identified him by the picture must contact the emergency service hotline.”
People in the vicinity said that the attacker came out of a nearby building site. Eyewitness said that the stabber had an Arab accent and swore at his victim in Arabic. They also said that the attacker stabbed him several times in the back and pelvis.
Guy Gutlansky, a parademic from the Magen David Adom rescue service who arrived at the scene on motorbike, said he found the victim lying in the street.
"When we got there, we saw a fully conscious man lying in the street, with stab wounds to his upper body," he said.
"We administered life-saving medical treatment, including stopping the bleeding, and evacuated him to the hospital once his condition was stable."
