Two Israelis killed in Beit Shean

JERUSALEM:

A Palestinian killed two people in a stabbing and car-ramming attack in northern Israel on Friday, triggering the military to launch a crackdown on the assailant's village in the occupied West Bank.

"Preliminary investigation indicates this was a rolling terror attack that began in the city of Beit Shean, where a pedestrian was run over," Israeli police said in a statement about Friday's attack, adding that the victim was a 68-year-old man.

"Later, a young woman was stabbed near Road 71, and the suspect was ultimately engaged with gunfire near Maonot Junction in Afula following intervention by a civilian bystander," it said, adding that the attacker was taken to hospital.

Both victims succumbed to the injuries, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency services said in a statement.

MDA also reported that a 16-year-old was slightly injured when "hit by a vehicle".

The Israeli military said the attacker had "infiltrated into Israeli territory several days ago".