Mideast Israeli police mount raid after fresh digger attack 23/07/08 07:40 CET

After a second bulldozer attack in Israel, security forces have raided the home of the man police say went on the rampage. The 22-year-old Palestinian lived in a village in an area of the occupied West Bank that Israel considers to be part of Jerusalem. Ghassan Abu Tir was killed in the attack.

His uncle Mohamad Abu Tir said he could not explain what had happened. “I condemn all of this because it does not help,” he said. It goes against coexistence and the peace process. But I doubt it.Why? Because this person did not belong to any faction or movement.”

A passer-by filmed the aftermath of the incident on a busy street in west Jerusalem. Witnesses said an armed civilian shot the digger driver before border police moved in.
In an apparent copycat attack of a deadly bulldozer rampage earlier this month, the digger ploughed into traffic. At least 16 people were hurt, one seriously.

It happened during a visit nearby by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and ahead of the arrival of US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.