British girl student is killed by knife maniac on Holy City tram
A BRITISH woman was stabbed to death yesterday when a mentally ill man ran amok on a tram in Jerusalem.
Exchange student Hannah Bladon was one of three people attacked when the Palestinian, armed with a kitchen knife, lashed out at Jewish and Christian travellers going to the holy sites.
Paramedics rushed Ms Bladen, 21, to the city’s Hadassah hospital but she was pronounced dead from multiple stab wounds to her torso.
The other two casualties – a 30-yearold pregnant woman and a 50-year-old man – suffered minor injuries.
The alleged attacker was arrested and identified as Jamil Tamimi, a 57-year-old Arab from East Jerusalem with mental health problems and a conviction for sex offences.
Ms Bladon, a student at Birmingham University, had been on an exchange programme with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem since January.
A university statement read: “The Hebrew University and the Rothberg International School express our deep sorrow over the murder of a British student, Hannah Bladon, in today’s attack.
“We extend our deepest condolences to her family and we share in their sorrow.”
Mark Regev, Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, said: “My thoughts are with the family and friends of UK student Hannah Bladon, who was murdered in a senseless act of terror in Jerusalem today.” The attack happened near Jerusalem’s walled Old City, as Christians crowded in to celebrate Good Friday while the Jewish community marked Passover.
The attacker reportedly got on the tram and rode one stop before launching his knife attack.
Television footage showed blood on the floor of the carriage as police officers restrained the man and carried him away. Zeevi Hanfling, an emergency technician, said: “Police officers led me into the carriage, where a young girl was lying unconscious with stab wounds to her upper body.”
Paramedics tried to resuscitate her at the scene before transferring her to hospital, where she died.
Jerusalem’s Good Friday celebrations see Christians hold a procession into the Old City, along the route Jesus took to his crucifixion. In addition, tens of thousands of Muslims were visiting the Al Aqsa mosque.
Since October 2015, 37 Israelis and two American tourists have been killed in street attacks by Palestinians.
Israel has accused Palestinian leaders of inciting the violence, while the Palestinians in turn deny involvement and say that Israel uses excessive force.