Scene of light rail terror attack
Scene of light rail terror attackFlash 90

The grandfather of the three-month-old girl murdered in this evening's terrorist attack in Jerusalem has issued a heartbreaking statement in response.

The baby girl, named Chaya Zisel Braun was among nine people wounded when an Arab terrorist mowed down pedestrians with his car at a light rail station in Jerusalem's Ammunition Hill. She succumbed to her wounds shortly afterwards; another victim suffered serious wounds while the remainder were moderately or lightly injured.

"Her parents waited for a child for many years during which they did not merit to have children," said grandfather Shimon Halperin. "Today they were coming back from praying at the Kotel (Western Wall) and a terrorist came and ran over their baby."

He told of her parents' joy after she was born, and described how he enjoyed playing with his granddaughter during her tragically short life. He and his wife had just arrived in Israel from the US to meet his grandchild, but only had a few short hours with her. 

"The parents are in trauma and are trying to digest the news."

The terrorist - a resident of the Silwan neighborhood with previous terror convictions - was shot and seriously wounded by a police officer as he attempted to flee the scene. He is now in police custody.