Jerusalem car attack

The attack took place near a border police station in east Jerusalem, on the line separating the western an eastern part of the Holy City. Five people were injured and taken to hospital.

"A young man rammed his car [into pedestrians] and then got out and tried to stab people" police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement. The driver was then shot and wounded by an armed security guard.

Samri said the driver was believed to be a Palestinian from east Jerusalem. She added that the assault was being treated as a "terror attack," according to the Associated Press news agency.

Palestinians have carried out similar attacks in Jerusalem recently. In October and November of last year, Palestinians ploughed vehicles into groups of pedestrians, killing several people.

Friday's attack comes ahead of an Israeli general election as well as a day after the Palestinian leadership said it would end security cooperation with the Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories.

ng/kms (AP, dpa, AFP)