UK tourist killed in alleged Jerusalem knife attack

JERUSALEM

Israeli police Friday arrested a Palestinian man who allegedly stabbed a female British tourist -- who later succumbed to her wounds -- on Jerusalem’s light-rail system, according to a police statement.

"A 25-year-old British tourist was killed after being stabbed near the New Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City," the statement read.

“The victim, who sustained multiple stab wounds to her chest, later succumbed to her injuries at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center," it added.

According to the Israeli authorities, the alleged attacker was shot and injured -- before being arrested -- by police at the scene.

He has been identified as Jamil Tamimi, a 57-year-old Palestinian resident of Jerusalem's Ras al-Amoud neighborhood.

Israeli police later argued that Tamimi suffered “serious mental health problems”.

According to Palestinian figures, within the last year and a half, more than 270 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli police either during -- or immediately after -- alleged attacks on Israelis or in clashes with Israeli security forces.

The Israeli authorities, for their part, say at least 48 Israelis have been killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians over the same period.