Roundup: 2 Israelis killed in Jerusalem shooting attack

Two Israelis were killed and five others wounded in a shooting attack on Sunday in East Jerusalem, Israeli Radio reported, adding that the gunman is a Palestinian and was killed at the end of the attack.

Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, claimed responsibility for the shooting attack.

"The one who carried out the operation is 39-year- old Misbah Abu Sbeih from the town of Silwan in East Jerusalem," said an official Hamas emailed statement.

Israeli Radio said that a police officer and a 60-year-old woman were killed and five others injured on Sunday morning after the gunman opened fire near a police station next to the Ammunition Hill light rail station in Jerusalem.

The Radio said the assailant fled the scene, continuing his rampage as he shot two people sitting in their car.

Israel Border Police spotted the gunman before shooting him dead.

Security forces began conducting searches for additional suspects, setting up a number of roadblocks in the area, the Radio said.

Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan arrived at the scene and spoke with the press, telling them there was no forewarning for this attack.

Fawzi Bahoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that Hamas blesses the shooting attack in Jerusalem.

"Hamas blesses the commando and heroic al-Quds (Jerusalem) operation. Hamas considers it a natural response to the occupation's crimes," said Barhoum.

He went on saying that "the operation is a reiteration that the Intifada is going on, and all the attempts to break or eliminate it will never succeed." Endit