2017 Jerusalem Light Rail stabbing explained

2017 Jerusalem Light Rail stabbing
Partof:the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Location:Tzahal Square, Jerusalem
Time:12:50
Timezone:UTC+3
Type:Stabbing
Fatalities:1 civilian
Injuries:2 civilians
Victims:Train passengers
Weapons:Kitchen knife
Motive:Under investigation

The 2017 Jerusalem Light Rail stabbing was a stabbing attack and suspected act of terrorism that occurred on Good Friday,[1] 14 April 2017, on Jerusalem Light Rail's car. In the attack, a 20 year old British student was stabbed to death by Jamil Tamimi, a Palestinian man. Two others, including a pregnant woman, were injured in the incident.[2] The attacker was arrested and was deemed competent to stand trial.

Background

Stabbing attacks were rare in Israel in 2017, although there was a spate of them in the fall of 2015 and early 2016.[3] The attack took place as crowds of pilgrims from around Israel and the world gathered in the center of Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and Good Friday.[3]

Attack

The attack occurred at about 1:00 pm 14 April 2017, as a knife-wielding man stabbed a 21 year old British exchange student. An off-duty police officer riding the light rail pulled an emergency brake and tackled the perpetrator, who was then arrested.[4]

According to Israel's domestic security service, Shin Bet, the attacker was known to the authorities and the attack may have also involved a "suicide by soldier" motivation,[5] as attributed to other incidents in the last 18 months,[6] "This is yet another case of a Palestinian suffering from personal, mental or moral distress choosing to commit an act of terror to escape his problems."

After his arrest, the perpetrator reportedly told investigators that he stabbed Bladon because he wanted the soldier standing beside her to kill him.[7] [8]

Victim

Hannah Bladon, a 20-year-old religion, theology and archaeology student in Israel on an exchange program from the University of Birmingham was fatally injured and died in ambulance en route to Hadassah Medical Center.[5] [9] She had been returning from volunteering in an Israel Antiquities Authority archaeological excavation in the Western Wall Tunnel,[10] and was standing next to the attacker after giving up her seat for a woman with a baby.[11] [12]

Suspect

The accused, Jamil Tamimi (57) a Palestinian Arab from the Ras al-Amud neighborhood of East Jerusalem who was known to security services; according to security services the accused was convicted of molesting his daughter in 2011.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] The accused had been admitted in the past to Kfar Shaul Mental Health Center, and a day before the attack he voluntarily admitted himself to a mental health treatment center in northern Israel from which he was expelled following a violent assault on a person.[5] [18] [19] On the morning of the attack he spoke to one of his sons who told him that the entire family wanted no contacted with him. He reportedly told investigators he had "nothing left to lose", and that he had purchased a knife in the Old City, before boarding a train close to Damascus Gate.[16] Following the attack, the accused was sent for a mental examination by a psychiatrist.[20] Psychiatric examiners judged him mentally fit to stand trial,[16] and he was subsequently charged with premeditated murder.[21] [22] [23]

Trial and sentencing

Tamimi confessed to having committed the murder, acknowledged his mental illness, apologized, and entered a plea-bargain under which he will serve 18 years in prison.[24] Hanna Bladon's family was "outraged" by the lenient sentence, arguing that the murderer ought to have been incarcerated for life.[25] In January 2019, the Jerusalem District Court formally sentenced him to 18 years in prison.[26]

On 26 January 2022, Tamimi was found dead in his cell at the Nitzan Prison.[27]

Impact

In response to this and other recent lone wolf attack, Israeli police have revamped their anti-terrorism tactics, increasing monitoring of social media, improving the intercommunication of mobile devices, and giving security agencies to instantly trace phone calls made such devices.[28]

Response

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Mickolus, Edward. Terrorism Worldwide, 2017. 2018-05-03. McFarland. 9781476634005. en.
  2. News: British Student Is Fatally Stabbed on Train in Jerusalem. Ian. Fisher. The New York Times. 14 April 2017. 14 April 2017.
  3. News: Eglash . Ruth . 14 April 2017 . Woman fatally stabbed in Jerusalem amid Good Friday gatherings . The Washington Post . live . limited . 14 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170415103604/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/woman-fatally-stabbed-in-jerusalem-amid-good-friday-gatherings/2017/04/14/0d416006-2105-11e7-ad74-3a742a6e93a7_story.html . 15 April 2017.
  4. News: Gross . Judah Ari . 14 April 2017 . Tram stabber was on his way home from a mental hospital — police . Times of Israel . 24 April 2017.
  5. News: Beaumont . Peter . 14 April 2017 . Jerusalem stabbing: British student, 21, killed close to Old City . The Guardian . 14 April 2017.
  6. Web site: Michael . Kobi . October 14, 2016 . The Palestinian Terrorism of the Past Year: Causes and Policy Recommendations . 2023-04-19 . Institute for National Security Studies.
  7. News: British Student Killed In Jerusalem Stabbing Attack Mourned. 16 April 2017. JTA. The Jewish Week. 16 April 2017.
  8. News: Palestinian mother of 9 who stabbed soldier said she had a death wish. 24 April 2017. JTA. 24 April 2017.
  9. News: Daisley . Stephen . Coffee House The real racism against the Palestinians . 9 January 2019 . . 4 January 2019.
  10. News: Eisenbud. Daniel K.. Tributes Honor British Student Killed in Jerusalem Stabbing Attack. Jerusalem Post. 17 April 2017. 6 May 2017.
  11. Web site: UK student was standing near killer because she gave up her seat for woman with baby . 2023-04-19 . Times of Israel . en-US.
  12. News: Turner. Rhea. Heartbroken dad of Hannah Bladon who died in Jerusalem talks of the pain one year on. 15 April 2018. Burton Mail. 14 April 2018.
  13. News: Palestinian man who stabbed British woman to death on Jerusalem light rail charged with premeditated murder. 21 May 2017. JTA. 11 May 2017.
  14. News: British Student Killed in Jerusalem Stabbing Attack; Assailant Mentally Unstable. Nir. Hasson. Jack. Khoury. 14 April 2017. 14 April 2017. Haaretz.
  15. Web site: Tal . Amir . Liebermann . Oren . Oren Liebermann . 2017-04-14 . British woman fatally stabbed by Palestinian in Jerusalem, police say . 2023-04-19 . CNN . en.
  16. News: Winer. Stuart. Palestinian who stabbed British woman to death ruled fit for trial. 19 April 2017. Times of Israel. 18 April 2017.
  17. News: Shragai . Nadav . Study finds surprising reason behind most terrorist attacks . 26 August 2018 . Israel Hayom . 24 August 2018.
  18. News: Levi . Liran . 2017-04-16 . Jerusalem light rail killer’s remand extended, mental health assessed . en . Ynetnews . 2023-04-19.
  19. News: המחבל סולק לפני הפיגוע מהוסטל בשל תקיפה; מצבו הנפשי ייבחן . Terrorist expelled from hostel due to violence; mental state to be examined . he . Walla! . 16 April 2017 . 30 April 2017 . The hearing revealed that Tamimi had recently been hospitalized at the Kfar Shaul Mental Health Center. A day before the attack, he went to a treatment center in the north, where he was hospitalized voluntarily. According to his lawyer, attorney Muhammad Mahmud, he attacked another person and was subsequently expelled..
  20. News: 16 April 2017 . Palestinian awaits mental evaluation after stabbing, killing British woman . Ma'an News Agency . 16 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170417071812/http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=776453 . 17 April 2017.
  21. Web site: Larner . Tony . 2017-05-11 . Man charged with murder of Birmingham student in Jerusalem . 2023-04-19 . BirminghamLive . en.
  22. Web site: Fulbright . Alexander . 11 May 2017 . Palestinian man charged with murder of British student Hannah Bladon . 2023-04-19 . Times of Israel . en-US.
  23. News: Sanchez . Raf . 2017-05-11 . Israel charges Palestinian man with murdering British student on Jerusalem tram . en-GB . The Telegraph . 2023-04-19 . 0307-1235.
  24. News: Hannah Bladon killing: Man jailed over student's murder . BBC . 31 December 2018.
  25. News: Family of murdered British exchange student Hannah Bladon criticise 'lenient' sentence for killer . 31 May 2019 . The Telegraph . 31 December 2018.
  26. Web site: Bob . Yonah Jeremy . 11 January 2019 . Terrorist gets 18 years for murder of British student on light rail . 2023-04-19 . The Jerusalem Post . en-US.
  27. Web site: Fabian . Emanuel . 26 January 2022 . Palestinian killer of UK student in 2017 Jerusalem attack is found dead in cell . 2022-01-28 . Times of Israel . en-US.
  28. News: Fox. Robert. Israel changes tactics to tackle street terror. 24 April 2018. London Evening Standard. 27 June 2017.
  29. News: Jerusalem stabbing: British student, 20, killed close to Old City. Beaumont. Peter. 2017-04-14. The Guardian. 2017-04-15. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  30. News: Redden. Elizabeth. British Student Killed in Jerusalem Stabbing. 17 April 2017. Inside Higher Ed. 17 April 2017.
  31. News: James. Aaron. Bishop's 'deep sadness' at Hannah Bladon's death. 19 April 2017. Premier Christian Radio. 17 April 2017.
  32. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-39620256 Hannah Bladon killing: Derby County to hold minute's silence
  33. http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burton-albion-to-honour-memory-of-hannah-bladon-dave-mcadam-and-ugo-ehiogu-with-minute-s-silence/story-30285368-detail/story.html Burton Albion to honour memory of Hannah Bladon, Dave McAdam and Ugo Ehiogu with minute's silence
  34. News: Archbishop of Canterbury prays at Western Wall with UK chief rabbi. 8 May 2017. Times of Israel. 3 May 2017.

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