An Arab Israeli, Hassan Dhamshe of Kafr Kanna, was murdered and several others were wounded in a Monday stabbing attack near the Lev Hamifratz Mall in Haifa.
MDA EMTs and paramedics pronounced a man in his 70s dead.
In addition, they tended to four wounded victims and evacuated them to Rambam Hospital. Three of the victims, including a woman and man in their 30s and a 15-year-old boy, were severely wounded, and a woman in her 70s is in moderate condition.
The terrorist, who was eliminated at the scene, was identified as Yitro Shahin, a 20-year-old Druze Israeli Arab from Shfar'am. The terrorist reportedly arrived at the scene of the attack by bus, and upon his arrival, began stabbing fellow passengers. After that, he disembarked from the bus and continued on a rampage at the bus stop, until he was shot by a security guard.
Shfar'am interim Mayor Faraj Hanifas claimed the terrorist suffered from severe mental illness and was cared for by the municipal welfare department.
The spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, condemned this morning's terror attack in Haifa and sent condolences to the family of the murdered victim and wishes for a speedy recovery to those who were wounded.
Tarif stressed the importance of waiting until the facts are clarified and the investigation is completed by the security forces while addressing the motive, the circumstances, and the attacker's mental state. He further stated that the members of the Druze community fight terror constantly and that members of the community were involved in neutralizing the terrorist.
The police commissioner and Minister Haim Katz, who serves as interim National Security Minister, held a situational assessment at the scene. Minister Katz stated: "The days that lay ahead are challenging. Israel Police and all emergency and rescue bodies are on high alert. With this, the public is asked to be vigilant and not to refrain from reporting a suspicious individual. I praise the security guards who confronted and neutralized the terrorist."
Naftali Rothenberg, Director of the Carmel Region at United Hatzalah, stated: “A terrorist stabbed several passersby. We provided medical assistance at the scene to four victims—one approximately 60 years old in critical condition and three others in serious to moderate condition. They were subsequently evacuated to the hospital for further treatment. Additionally, United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma Unit provided support to individuals suffering from shock due to the nature of the incident.”
MDA Medicycle Unit Senior EMT, Itay Mazor, said: "I was near the scene and arrived quickly. I saw five casualties, four of whom were lying on the ground, while a 65-year-old woman was walking toward us. They all suffered penetrating injuries. The elderly male victim, about 65 years old, was lying unconscious, without a pulse or breathing, and suffering from multiple stab wounds. We immediately performed medical assessments, but his injuries were critical, and we were forced to pronounce him dead at the scene. Additional MDA teams provided life-saving medical care to the other injured individuals, who were conscious and in serious to moderate condition. After administering medical treatment, including bandaging and hemorrhage control, the wounded were evacuated to the hospital by MDA's mobile intensive care units and ambulances."
MDA Paramedic Ahmad Tuafshi: "We arrived at the scene quickly and with large forces, and we encountered a very serious incident. Several patients were lying on the ground, some unconscious with penetrating wounds. A 65-year-old man was lying unconscious, without a pulse or breathing, and suffering from multiple stab wounds. After performing medical assessments, we had to pronounce him dead at the scene. Nearby, a 70-year-old injured woman was walking toward us, conscious. We provided initial life-saving treatment, including bandaging, stopping severe bleeding, and immobilizing her on a backboard. We then began evacuating the injured to the hospital, each in varying degrees of injury."
MDA Paramedic Tom Retig said: "We arrived quickly and saw, near the security checkpoint at the entrance to HaMifratz Central Station, a 65-year-old man lying unconscious, without a pulse or breathing, with penetrating wounds. We performed medical assessments, but unfortunately, there was nothing more we could do but pronounce him dead. Our other teams treated the remaining injured individuals."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the deadly terror attack: "My wife Sara and I send our deepest condolences to the family of the man who was murdered in the shocking terrorist attack in Haifa and we send our best wishes for a swift and complete recovery to the wounded.
"We will continue to fight everywhere against those who seek to murder us and we will defeat them."
