Tel Aviv—Hamza Matrouk, a 23-year-old Palestinian who infiltrated Israel carried out Wednesday’s stabbing attack on a bus near the Ma’ariv Bridge in Tel Aviv. Matrouk does not belong to any terrorist organization. He is originally from Tulkarem and now lives in Ramallah.

It was also reported that the IDF called the terrorist’s father and other relatives to come in for questioning. A friend said he was with Matrouk until 11 p.m. in Tulkarem on Tuesday night and did not notice anything unusual in his friend’s behavior.

A Hamas spokesperson praised the terror attack. “The stabbing attack is a feat,” Izzat a-Rishak wrote on his twitter account. “This is a natural response to the crimes of the occupation and Israeli terror towards our people.”

There is an ongoing investigation to see if the terrorist had help from others. “It is very hard to find a lone terrorist who decides to carry out an attack,” Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino stated. “We will continue to handle illegal aliens.”

He also praised the police, who worked quickly to capture the terrorist. “That is exactly how we must act when there is a terrorist harming innocent passengers.”

At least 16 people were injured Wednesday morning, including six in critical condition, in the attack on Dan bus line #40 that ended when Matrouk was shot by the police and arrested. It took place during the morning commute and began when he stabbed the bus driver and some passengers, who fled when the bus stopped at a green light and a student broke a window with his elbow so that people could escape.

“I went to the parking lot and saw two people stabbed,” said one eyewitness. “I saw the terrorist escape with a knife. One of the injured fell on my car. I put him on the floor, called an ambulance and the police, and wanted to see where the terrorist was.”

The terrorist fled from the bus and ran toward Ha-Misgar St., stabbing pedestrians as he went. The Nachshon Unit noticed the activity and apprehended the perpetrator after shooting him in the legs.

In addition to the six victims in critical condition, two are in moderate condition, and the rest were only injured lightly. The terrorist, who was also injured lightly, was taken to Wolfson Hospital in Holon.

By Gal Cohen/www.jerusalemonline.com