Security forces killed an Islamic Jihad terrorist, 32 year-old Mu'taz Hijazi of Abu Tor in East Jerusalem, on Thursday morning, suspicion that he was involved in the shooting of Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick.
Islamic Jihad terrorist Mu’taz Hijazi Flash90
According to one report, the forces tried to arrest the suspect, but were forced to shoot him after he retaliated violently.
"In a joint operation of the Jerusalem police and the Israel SecurityAgency (ISA or Shin Bet), a SWAT team arrived in the Abu Tor neighborhood this morning to arrest a prime suspect... in the shooting incident yesterday against Yehuda Glick," the Jerusalem Police District said Thursday in an official statement.
"With the arrival of SWAT at the home, the suspect began firing shots at soldiers, who returned fire and killed him. Police and Border Patrol forces are deployed in the neighborhood and throughout the city to maintainsecurity."
Glick - who founded and heads the LIBA Initiative for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount - was shot in the chest on Wednesday night outside the Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, after the shooter pulled up in a motorcycle or scooter and confirmed his identity before shooting.
He had been speaking, minutes before being shot, at an event for Jewish rights on the Temple Mount that had hosted leading religious figures and MKs. Likud MK Moshe Feiglin with with Glick as he was shot.
The 50 year-old advocate for Jewish rights at Judaism's holiest site is in critical, but stable condition, Sha'arei Tzedek hospital staff stated overnight Wednesday/Thursday. The public has been asked to pray forYehuda Yehoshua ben Rivka Ita Breindel.
Islamic Jihad has just claimed official responsibility for the attack, as of just before 9:00 am Thursday.