An Arab terrorist attacked a group of soldiers at the Tapuach Junction in Samaria (Shomron) just before midnight Monday night, spraying the group with gunfire as he arrived at the crossroads.
A Border Police officer and an IDF soldier took cover and returned fire, killing the pistol-wielding attacker.
The wounded soldier was treated on site and then evacuated to hospital in light to moderate condition. He remained conscious throughout the incident.
“The terrorists are drawing inspiration from the United States and Europe having recognized the government of the terrorists of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority,” said Gershon Mesika, head of the Shomron Regional Council, following the shooting.
This past Saturday night there was an attempted Arab suicide bombing at the Tapuach junction, which is located next to the Jewish community of Tapuach and near the city of Ariel, a major Jewish population center.
Security forces became suspicious when they saw the bomber wearing a heavy overcoat in extremely warm weather, and ordered him to remove it. Instead, the would-be suicide bomber refused and lay down on the ground. When the coat was finally removed, an explosives belt was seen to be wrapped around his body.
Sappers were called to the checkpoint to dismantle the bomb, and the terrorist was taken into custody for questioning.