Jerusalem pride stabbing: Orthodox Jewish extremist stabs 6 at parade - Action News
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Jerusalem pride stabbing: Orthodox Jewish extremist stabs 6 at parade

A pride march in Jerusalem was the sight of bloodied chaos Thursday after an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man stabbed six participants and reports say he was released from prison three weeks after stabbing several at a 2005 pride march.

Suspect is same person responsible for 2005 stabbing attack at pride event, reports say

The girl was among six people wounded Thursday by an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man, Yishai Schlissel, who had carried out a similar attack on a gay pride parade in 2005. He was arrested at the scene. (Amir Cohen/REUTERS)

An anti-gay Orthodox Jewish extremiststabbed and injured six participants of an annual gay pride march Thursday in Jerusalem, police and witnesses said.

Police and medics said the assailant had wounded six people. Two were taken to hospital in serious condition.

Yishai Schlissel was arrested at the scene, according to police spokeswoman Luba Samri. Police said Schlissel was released from prison three weeks ago after serving a sentence for stabbing several people at a 2005 pride parade in Jerusalem.

Five thousand marchers waving banners were heading down an avenue when an ultra-Orthodox man jumped into the crowd and started stabbing people, witnesses said.

"I saw an ultra-Orthodox youth stabbing everyone in his way," said Shai Aviyor, a witness interviewed on Israel's Channel 2 television.

"We heard people screaming, everyone ran for coverand there were bloodied people on the ground," Aviyor said.

Media reports said the suspect hid in a nearby supermarket and jumped out to attack the march as it passed.

The suspect, who is reportedly the same person behind the 2005 pride attack, is seen hiding his weapon before six people were stabbed despite a 'massive presence' of police security. (Sebastian Scheiner/AP)

Police spokesman Asi Ahroni said there was a "massive presence" of police securing the parade but "unfortunately, the man managed to pull out a knife and attack."

The march continued after the wounded were taken for treatment, but in a more somber atmosphere. Media reported that thousands of Jerusalem residents who had not participated in the parade joined the march in solidarity after the attack.

A 'despicable hate crime'

OdedFried, the head of a leading gay rights group, said the march would go on despite the attack.

"Our struggle for equality only intensifies in the face of such events," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahucalled the attack a "despicable hate crime," describing it as a "most serious incident." It was the worst attack on the pride march in several years in the city where the religious population is more prominent than in other parts of Israel.

NetanyahusaidIsrael would prosecute those responsible to the full extent of the law, adding: "Freedom of individual choice is a basic value in Israel."

The parade, which attracts thousands of participants, has long been a focus of tension between Israel's predominantly secular majority and the ultra-Orthodox Jewish minority, who object to public displays of homosexuality.

People react to the violent attack that wounded six people, including two in serious condition. A gay rights leader said the attack only intensifies their struggle for equality. (Sebastian Scheiner/AP)

With files from The Associated Press