JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Palestinian man suspected in an axe attack that critically wounded a mall security guard in the West Bank was arrested by Israeli security forces.
Saadi Ali Abu Hamed, 21, was arrested Saturday night in al-Azariya, a village adjacent to Maale Adumim, where the attack took place late Thursday night. The arrest was a joint operation of the Shin Bet security service, the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Police.
The guard, 48, is on a respirator and his life is still in danger, according to the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem, where he was taken after being discovered lying in a pool of blood on the floor of the Jerusalem-area mall with multiple wounds. A bloody axe was left behind at the scene, according to police.
A family member of Abu Hamed called police on Saturday night and turned in the alleged assailant, according to the Israel Police. Abu Hamed linked himself to the attack during his initial interrogation, according to the Shin Bet. He is not affiliated with any terror groups, according to reports.
