British tourist stabbed to death in Jerusalem

A British tourist was killed on Friday when an Israeli Arab stabbed her near Jerusalem's Old City, officials said.

The 25-year-old woman from Britain was stabbed while travelling on a tram. The attack took place around 12.50 p.m. next to the walls surrounding the Old City, Efe news reported.

She arrived at a hospital in critical condition and was declared dead shortly thereafter, the hospital spokeswoman said.

The stabbing occurred while hundreds of Christian pilgrims were recreating the Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) to commemorate Good Friday.

The alleged assailant was arrested by police officers at the scene, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

According to Rosenfeld, the suspect, 57-year-old Jamil Tamimi, is an Israeli Arab from the Palestinian neighbourhood of Ras al-Amud in the occupied territory of East Jerusalem.

He added that Tamimi had attempted suicide earlier this year and was convicted of an indecent assault on his daughter in 2011.

The area has been closed and safety measures were being increased throughout the downtown area as well as in and around the Old City, the spokesman added.

--IANS

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