Jerusalem: Four dead in mass shooting after Palestinians attack police women

Three Palestinians and one Israeli police woman have died following a shooting incident at the Damascus Gate in contested East Jerusalem. Police said the Palestinians launched a knife and gun attack, shooting two policewomen before they were all shot dead. The dead woman was named as 19-year-old Hadar Cohen. The other police woman was critically wounded.

The three attackers were said to be armed with pipe bombs, machine guns and knives. However their bombs did not go off and were later defused. Police said they had seemed nervous when approached and one then pulled out a weapon. The three were identified in local reports as Ahmed Rajeh Zakarneh, Muhammad Ahmed Kmail and Ahmed Najeh Abu al-Rub from Jenin.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said at the scene: "The attack was carried out a few minutes ago by three terrorists who opened fire using automatic weapons as well as using knives, and our police officers who were hit were taken to the hospital in critical condition. One of the officers was shot and the other was stabbed. After police cordoned off the area, two pipe bombs were discovered that the terrorists carried but did not explode. Our bomb disposal experts are being very cautious at the moment to safely detonate them."

Hamas spokesman Hussam Badran said: "This and other operations affirm our people's determination to continue the intifada despite all the obstacles. This operation carries a clear message to the occupation that the ongoing aggression on al-Aksa Mosque wouldn't pass without a real response."