Medic Yaron Tzuker said he arrived as the gunfire was still going on. "They were still shooting when we got here, he told Channel 10 TV. We took cover and the ambulance was hit. It's horrible inside - dead bodies and wounded - it's horrific."
Details after the jump in the extended post below…
For each of the stories posted, clicking on the article link to its source should get you the latest updated report, at least for the next few hours.
Ha'aretz reports:
Eight people were killed and nine others were wounded Thursday evening when terrorists infiltrated the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood in Jerusalem, police said.
A single terrorist infiltrated the yeshiva, possibly armed with an explosive belt, and began firing in every direction. He was shot and killed, police said.
Three of the injured were listed as being in serious condition and taken to Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Karem, while the other six were lightly hurt and taken to Sha'arei Tzedek Medical Center. One of the injured is 15 years old. MDA declared the incident a "multiple casualty event."
An organization calling itself "Galilee Freedom Battalions - the Martyrs of Imad Mughniyeh" took responsiblity for the attack, according to Hezbollah's Al-Manar television. The veracity of the claim was not clear.
Hezbollah has vowed to avenge last month's assassination of its terror chief, Imad Mughniyeh, in Damascus. The organization has blamed Israel, which has denied any role in the killing.
Yitzhak Danon, a student at the yeshiva, told Channel 2 television that one terrorist entered the seminary's library, and fired for several minutes at students with a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
Danon said he shot the terrorist twice in the head.
Michael, another student who only gave his first name, said he saw a terrorist enter the complex, and fire for some 10 minutes. "He fired 500-600 bullets," he said, adding that most of those hurt were high school age.
Witnesses said about 80 people were gathered in the library.
A large number of security and emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene, with some 50 ambulances summoned.
Police and Israel Defense Forces troops searched the complex and the surrounding area in order to determine whether a second or possibly third terrorist was still holed up inside the yeshiva or had fled.
Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski told Channel 2 television, "It's very sad tonight in Jerusalem - many people were killed in the heart of Jerusalem."
"There was a lot of gunfire and hysteria," a woman who lives across the street from the school told the radio. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
In Gaza, Hamas welcomed the terrorist attack. "We bless the [Jerusalem] operation. It will not be the last," Hamas said in a statement.
In Gaza City, residents went out into the streets and fired rifles in
celebration in the air after hearing news of the attack on the yeshiva.
Ha'aretz has another version of the report here. The Jerusalem Post reports:
Eight people were reported to be killed and approximately 40 wounded in a terror attack at a seminary located near the entrance to Jerusalem on Thursday evening.
Rescue workers evacuate wounded from the scene of Thursday's terror attack in Merkaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem.
Photo: Channel 10The exact number of people killed was yet to be confirmed, but Magen David Adom have confirmed six wounded civilians - three seriously and three moderately. Two terrorists were also said to be dead. Police were said to be chasing a third terrorist and were closing off the area.
The incident occurred when at least three terrorists entered the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva in the neighborhood of Kiryat Moshe carrying weapons. The terrorists were not wearing a suicide-bomb belt as earlier reported.
The gunmen entered a dining hall where about 80 people were gathered, witnesses said, and opened fire. "There are at least seven killed and 10 people wounded," said Eli Dein, director of Israel's rescue service.
Approximately 50 ambulances were sent to the scene and a 16-year-old boy in serious condition and suffering from chest wounds was seen being evacuated from the scene.
Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski told Channel 2, "It's very sad tonight in Jerusalem - many people were killed in the heart of Jerusalem."
In Gaza City, residents went out into the streets and fired rifles in celebration in the air after hearing news of the attack on the seminary.
No terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The public can call the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva's emergency hotline: 026524793.
AP contributed to this report.
Arutz 7 reports:
Arab Terrorists Attack Jerusalem's Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva: 8 Dead
by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz(IsraelNN.com) Two Arab terrorists infiltrated Jerusalem's Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva at around 8:30 Thursday night and murdered eight Jews. At least 10 people have been wounded; three are in critical condition, a fourth victim was wounded moderately and six others, lightly.
The attackers entered from two separate entrances to the yeshiva and opened fire on the students before one of them was gunned down himself by an armed civilian. Witnesses say that the attack began in the seminary's library with the terrorists spraying bullets in every direction.The yeshiva student who killed the terrorist, 40-year-old Yitzchak Dadon, said that he shot the attacker in the head with his personal weapon, after which another armed civilian "finished him off." Asked by a Channel 2 TV reporter what weapon the terrorist had, Dadon said, "A Kalachnikov," and turning to the camera, he added, "The Kalachnikov that you gave him, President Peres...."
The second terrorist hid in the yeshiva building, with subsequent reports indicating that the attacker was killed by responding security forces. Police are deployed in the surrounding neighborhood, and scoured the yeshiva and connected buildings. Most students in the building were evacuated after taking cover in the yeshiva's bomb shelter, according to police spokesmen.
Fifty ambulances responded to the scene, which emergency responders have called "a major incident." The wounded were evacuated to Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital.
In Gaza City, Arab residents went out into the streets and fired rifles in the air in celebration of the attack against the Jews of Jerusalem.
Police forces are on heightened alert throughout the country.
The Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva is located near the entrance to Jerusalem, in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood. The yeshiva, founded by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook, is at the heart of the national-religious movement in Israel.