Shooting attack in Samaria injures 2; IDF pursues terrorist who fled scene

A 19-year-old female soldier was seriously wounded and a 50-year-old man was moderately injured on Sunday when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire from the side of the road at a passing civilian vehicle and bus. The shooting attack took place on Highway 55, near the village of Nabi Elias in Samaria, also known as the West Bank.

IDF troops were dispatched to the scene to search for the suspect, who escaped. The IDF said the identity of the terrorist is already known to security forces, as they reportedly found his cell phone at the scene of the attack. 

The 50-year-old man was evacuated to Meir Hospital, and the 19-year-old soldier was evacuated to the trauma room at Beilinson Hospital with life-threatening injuries. 

Shmulik, from Karnei Shomron, a survivor of the attack this morning told N12 news: “I was on my way home when suddenly a car stopped in the opposite lane. I saw something was wrong, and suddenly a terrorist took out an M-16 and fired about 13-14 bullets towards me. I ducked while driving, saw that he was changing the cartridge, and started running towards him.” 

Shmulik also said that a police car, which was in front of him, did not stop at the scene, but kept driving. After the terrorist ran away with his car still running, Shmulik said he noticed the terrorist's cell phone in the car. 

“I prevented a disaster that could have been greater,” he said.

IDF soldiers blocked traffic at the intersection, set up roadblocks, and began to search the village of Nabi Elias, where the terrorist is believed to be hiding. Security forces estimate that the terrorist acted alone.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Council, decried government inaction, saying, “An attack on a main road in a central place in the State of Israel is not something that should happen. We have been warning and crying out for some time – to close the security checkpoints."

"This incident began with an attack in which two people were injured, and it is still happening. There is still a chase, there is still an exchange of fire. We can't rely on miracles,” Dagan added.

Magen David Adom (MDA) medic Assaf Ilkashi said, “We arrived at the scene with a large crew. We got into the bus and saw the young woman sitting on the bus, fully conscious, and suffering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. We gave her life-saving medical treatment and evacuated her in an intensive care vehicle to the hospital while she was fully conscious and in serious condition.” 

The 50-year-old man, who was also fully conscious, is believed to be in mild to moderate condition.