Israeli police officers shot and killed, on Wednesday morning, a Palestinian driver, in occupied East Jerusalem, allegedly after he rammed two police officers with his car.The deceased driver has been identified as ‘Omran ‘Omar Abu Dheim, 41 years of age, from Jabal al-Mokabber in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli sources said the incident took place in the at-Tour junction, near the Mount of Olives, and that the police shot and seriously injured the Palestinian driver, who died of his wounds shortly after the shooting.
Israeli Ynet News said a male officer suffered a light injury and was moved to the Hadassah Medical Center, in Ein Karem, in Jerusalem, while a female officer suffered a moderate injury and was moved to the Shaare Tzedek Hospital.
Palestinian eyewitnesses said the incident was an ordinary traffic accident, while the Israeli police is claiming its initial investigation indicates that the driver “deliberately attacked the officers, and ‘tried to confirm the kill by reversing back over them,” Israeli Ynet News said.
According to the Ynet, the driver was traveling towards the Augusta Victoria area when he noticed Border Police officers conducting “security checks”, and “swerved off the road towards them.”
The incident led to clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli police officers.
