Terrorist attack in Hadera: 6 stabbed, 2 in critical condition

Six people were stabbed, two of them critically, in a terrorist attack on Wednesday in the central Israeli city of Hadera. The attack spanned four different locations, with the suspect using a moped to move between locations, attacking people along the way.

According to Hebrew-language media, the suspected attacker, an Arab-Israeli resident of Umm al-Fahm, was known to police for previous criminal activity. Armed residents cornered the suspect before police arrived and helped subdue him.

Magen David Adom (MDA) said that the condition of two of the victims, who were initially listed as seriously injured, later deteriorated to critical condition. Three other people remained in serious condition, while one had moderate injuries. Four victims underwent surgery at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Dr. Jalal Ashkar told local media.

Video footage circulating online shows the moment armed civilians surrounded the attacker, who was wearing a motorcycle helmet and jacket. After warning shots were fired, the police arrived and handcuffed the suspect.

Israel Police Chief Daniel Levy acknowledged the growing burden on police and said they are currently reaching their limits in dealing with such incidents.

Hadera Mayor Nir Ben Haim praised the courage of residents who stood up to the attacker, saying: “The heroism of our residents who helped capture the terrorist proves the importance of vigilance.”

The attack comes amid a wave of violence in Israel, just days after the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas massacre.