Suspected terror attack in Northern Israel leaves 12 injured. A vehicle plowed into pedestrians at a busy junction in northern Israel on Thursday, injuring 12 people in what authorities have described as a suspected terror attack. The incident took place at around 4:18 PM on Highway 65, near the Karkur junction, south of Haifa.

According to Hillel Yaffe Medical Centre, which received ten victims, one person is in critical condition, two are in serious condition, one in moderate condition, and six others are in mild condition. Local police have since apprehended a suspect believed to be responsible for the attack.

Authorities confirmed that the attacker, a 24-year-old Israeli Arab from Ma’ale Iron, was shot and killed by Israeli police officers. The suspect had no prior criminal or security record. Police reports indicate the attacker drove into pedestrians at a bus station, then proceeded to stab others before crashing into a police vehicle.

While initial reports pointed to the attacker being an Israeli Arab, KAN, Israel’s public broadcaster, cited sources suggesting that the suspect was a 53-year-old Palestinian from northern Samaria, married to an Israeli citizen and residing in Israel illegally.

The militant group Hamas has since praised the attack, calling it a “natural response to Israel’s aggression and crimes.” They have called for other Palestinians to escalate such violent actions against Israeli targets.

Eyewitness accounts from the scene described a chaotic and terrifying situation. Maya, one witness, told Haaretz, “It was clear he came with intention, and drove as fast as he could, then moved on.” Another witness, Yoni, said, “A car came speeding, veered onto the sidewalk, hit them, and fled. It was chaotic.”

Paramedic Avi Cohen, who responded to the scene, explained that emergency services arrived to find victims lying scattered across the site, including at the bus stop. He and his team began treating the wounded immediately, focusing on stopping bleeding and bandaging wounds.

This attack follows a recent narrow escape from disaster in Israel. Last week, authorities defused a deadly situation involving three buses that exploded into flames, narrowly avoiding mass casualties. The explosions were caused by detonators that had been set for the wrong time. Had they gone off as planned, officials said, hundreds could have died.

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