Democracy Dies in Darkness

At least 7 killed in East Jerusalem synagogue shooting

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Updated January 27, 2023 at 6:56 p.m. EST|Published January 27, 2023 at 2:14 p.m. EST
A Palestinian gunman on Jan. 27 killed at least seven people, including children, during evening prayers at a synagogue in East Jerusalem. (Video: The Washington Post, Photo: ATEF SAFADI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/The Washington Post)
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TEL AVIV — A Palestinian gunman killed at least seven people, including children, during Friday night prayers at a synagogue in East Jerusalem, the latest in a pattern of escalatory violence that has evoked the darkest days of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The gunman entered the synagogue in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood around 8:15 p.m. local time and opened fire on worshipers who were observing the Jewish sabbath, according to a statement by Israeli police. He then ran back onto the street, firing at passersby, and attempted to drive away in a car before being killed by Israeli security officers at the scene.