(Sunday 19 October 20:00) Three Israelis were murdered by terrorist gunfire in the Shomron shortly before 19:00 tonight. The terror attack occurred near Ein Yabrud, an Arab village located [northeast of Ramallah] in proximity to the Shomron community of Ofrah. According to the preliminary information available, the Ofrah paramedic ambulance was informed of the attack at 19:00, immediately responding to the location a short distance away. It remains unclear at this time but reports indicate the initial response may have been delayed due to ongoing gunfire.

An army report indicates that in addition to the gunfire, a bomb may have been hurled at the victims. This has not yet been confirmed.

In addition to the Ofrah MDA bullet-resistant ambulance, a bullet resistant military ambulance with a physician on board was also dispatched to the scene. The medical team was unable to resuscitate three of the victims who were pronounced dead on the scene. A fourth victim was transported in the Ofrah paramedic ambulance to the trauma unit of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. There are also reports of an unspecified number of persons who sustained light injuries.

The site of the latest Arab terror attack is the same location where Ofrah resident 30-year-old Assaf Hirschkovitz was murdered on May 1, 2001, between the junction to Beit El and his home community of Ofrah.

Hadassah trauma unit officials report the victim has arrived and appears in moderate condition. The army has imposed a curfew on Ein Yabrud. A manhunt for the terrorists is ongoing. Helicopters have been deployed. The Ofrah first response team remains deployed awaiting further instructions from the army.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 20th, 2003 and is filed under hotnews.