Jerusalem Terror: Shooting, Vehicle Attack May Be Linked To Gaza War

A man on a motorcycle opened fire on an Israeli soldier near Jerusalem's Hebrew University campus in Mount Scopus Monday, according to local reports.

The drive-by shooting took place at a bus stop in the tunnel leading to Mount Scopus. The victim, reportedly an Israeli soldier, sustained moderate wounds. Police are in pursuit of the attacker.

The attack came after a suspected terrorist drove an excavator into a bus in the Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood in Jerusalem, causing it to overturn. The driver was shot dead by police and a 25-year-old pedestrian was killed in the rampage.

Police described the incident as a "terrorist attack," indicating that they suspected Palestinian involvement, according to AP.

Palestinian sources identified the driver as Muhammed Naif El-Ja'abis, 19, from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said a police officer in the area opened fire and killed the attacker. Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said that the alleged terrorist "was known to security forces from a separate incident."

Palestinian militant group Hamas has issued a statement in which it welcomes the rampage and encourages similar terrorist attacks. "No permission is required," it said, according to Voice of Israel radio.

The attack occurred on a main thoroughfare near Jerusalem's light-rail line, Fox News reported. The area is located near the unofficial line between Jewish West Jerusalem and East Jerusalem, the section of the city captured by Israel in 1967 and which is home to most of the city's Arab population. Israeli media said the attacker came from an Arab area of the city.