​(Communicated by the Israel Police Spokesperson)

Last Friday (16 September 2016), a Jordanian citizen attacked Israel Police officers at the entrance to the Damascus Gate after attending prayers on the Temple Mount.

The terrorist, a Jordanian citizen in his 20s, entered Israel the day before the attack. He ascended to the Temple Mount and stayed overnight at a hostel in the Muslim Quarter in the Old City.

On Friday morning, the day of the attack, he prayed on the Temple Mount, bought knives and hid them in his clothes. Upon seeing the officers at the entrance to the Damascus Gate, he approached the policeman waving a knife in his hand shouting “Allah Akbar" and attempted to stab them. In response, the officers shot and killed the terrorist.

A search was performed on the body and additional knives were found. As part of the investigation and coordination with the authorities, the terrorist's body was transferred to Jordan today.

The attack was prevented as a direct result of the operational deployment and increased security of the Israeli Police throughout this period.