Eight people were injured, one critically, this morning (Wednesday) when a terrorist opened fire on tourists passing through the Israeli side of the Yitzhak Rabin Arava Crossing on the Jordan-Israel border between Eilat and Aqaba. Dr. Tzvi Epstein, director of the Yoseftal Hospital in Eilat, reported that five of the victims were injured by the gunfire and three were being treated for hysteria. One of the victims sustained serious head injuries and was transported by helicopter to the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva.
According to reports from the scene, the terrorist was concealed in a truck passing through the Jordanian checkpoint. He leaped out and opened fire towards the group of tourists as he charged towards the Israeli side of the border. The terrorist, a Jordanian truck driver, was killed by Israeli port security officers. Jordanian troops arrived on the scene and both Israeli and Jordanian helicopters took to the air in search of potential accomplices in the attack.
The injured tourists were part of a large group from South America who were passing through the Arava Crossing from Jordan to Israel.
The crossing was immediately closed as Israeli and Jordanian port authorities handled the aftermath of the terrorist attack.
According to reports from the scene, the terrorist was concealed in a truck passing through the Jordanian checkpoint. He leaped out and opened fire towards the group of tourists as he charged towards the Israeli side of the border. The terrorist, a Jordanian truck driver, was killed by Israeli port security officers. Jordanian troops arrived on the scene and both Israeli and Jordanian helicopters took to the air in search of potential accomplices in the attack.
The injured tourists were part of a large group from South America who were passing through the Arava Crossing from Jordan to Israel.
The crossing was immediately closed as Israeli and Jordanian port authorities handled the aftermath of the terrorist attack.