A peaceful afternoon turned into a scene of terror when a vehicle plowed into pedestrians in northern Israel on Thursday.
Authorities believe the incident was a deliberate attack, leaving 12 people injured and causing widespread panic.
Attack at Karkur Junction
The incident took place at 4:18 p.m. on Highway 65, near the Karkur junction, just south of Haifa.
The sudden attack left bystanders scrambling for safety as the vehicle sped into a crowded bus stop.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, transporting victims to the nearby Hillel Yaffe Medical Center.
Among those injured, one remains in critical condition, two are in serious condition, one is in moderate condition, and six others suffered minor injuries.
Suspect Neutralized
Authorities immediately launched an operation to track down the suspect.
Israeli police confirmed they intercepted the vehicle and arrested the driver, who was suspected of carrying out the attack.
According to an official police statement, the attacker ran over several pedestrians before attempting to stab others and then crashed into a police vehicle.
Israeli police later confirmed they had shot and killed the suspect, identifying him as a 24-year-old Israeli Arab from Ma’ale Iron with no prior criminal or security record.
However, conflicting reports from Israel’s public broadcaster KAN suggested the attacker was a 53-year-old Palestinian from northern Samaria, married to an Israeli citizen but living in the country illegally.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack.
Hamas Responds
Shortly after the incident, Hamas praised the attack, calling it a “natural response” to what they describe as Israeli aggression.
The group encouraged further acts of violence, escalating concerns about rising tensions in the region.
Eyewitness Accounts
Witnesses described the horrifying moment the vehicle struck.
Maya, who was at the scene, recalled seeing a large black vehicle speeding toward the bus stop before slamming into the waiting crowd.
“We ran—it was complete chaos. He came straight at us at full speed,” she told Haaretz.
Another witness, Yoni, described the scene to Israel Hayom, saying, “There were young men standing on the sidewalk near the bus stop.
Suddenly, a car veered off the road, hit them, and then took off. It was absolute mayhem. People rushed to help the injured until ambulances arrived.”
Emergency Response
First responders described a chaotic and distressing scene.
Paramedic Avi Cohen said his team arrived at a “complex scene with a lot of commotion.”
He explained, “We found multiple victims lying in the area near the bus stop.
We immediately started providing medical care, stopping bleeding, and bandaging wounds.”
Eli Bin, the director-general of Israel’s ambulance service, noted that some victims were scattered around the site.
“We are still unsure whether they were thrown by the impact or tried to flee in panic,” he said.
Recent Security Threats
The attack comes just a week after Israeli authorities narrowly avoided mass casualties when three empty buses exploded into fireballs due to what police suspect was a coordinated terror attack.
Investigators discovered additional explosive devices on other buses, but the attackers had mistakenly set the detonators for 9:00 p.m. instead of 9:00 a.m., preventing a larger disaster.
Police and security forces remain on high alert as investigations continue into both incidents, reinforcing concerns over increasing violence in the region.