At least seven people are dead after a mass shooting in Jerusalem at a synagogue, according to Israeli government reports.
A gunman opened fire late Friday near a synagogue, killing seven and wounding at least three more, according to initial reports from Israeli emergency services. The gunman was reportedly killed during the incident.
7 killed, 10 injured in synagogue terror attack in #Jerusalem 🇮🇱
Paramedics have arrived onto the scene and began providing treatment to those injured. pic.twitter.com/CAH9Paiv1B
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) January 27, 2023
The shooter was identified as 13-year-old Khairi Alqam by Israeli authorities. Alqam, from the A-Tur neighborhood of East Jerusalem, reportedly opened fire on police near the scene and was shot and killed after a short chase.
❗️ At least 7 people were killed and 10 others injured in a shooting in #Jerusalem
It is reported that an unidentified man entered a synagogue in the Neve Yaakov district in eastern Jerusalem while praying and shot people. The shooter has been eliminated.
📰 The Jerusalem Post pic.twitter.com/gstX04EMPe
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 27, 2023
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Israel and the West Bank, alongside Egypt, this weekend following increased tensions in recent weeks over escalating violence between Palestinians and Israeli security forces. Nine Palestinians were killed in a raid on a refugee camp Thursday, prompting rocket attacks from Gaza onto Israel by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Organization. The State Department said Friday there is no indication yet that the shooting was connected to the escalating violence elsewhere. (RELATED: ‘Unprecedented Provocation’: Israeli Security Minister Enters Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, Defying Hamas)
The State Department added that Blinken still plans to go forward with his visit to the region in light of the shooting.