At least 7 people killed in Jerusalem synagogue shooting: NPR

Israeli police say an armed Palestinian killed at least seven people and injured several others at a synagogue in Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood, in one of the deadliest attacks on Israelis in years.

Israeli media reports that Jewish worshipers had finished Friday night Sabbath prayers and were outside the synagogue when the gunman opened fire. According to the police, the gunman drove away and the police arrested him, and he opened fire on officers, who shot and killed him.

US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel called Friday’s shooting in Jerusalem an “absolutely horrific” attack. “Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to those killed or injured in this heinous act of violence,” he said at a press briefing. “We condemn this apparent terrorist attack in the strongest terms. We are in direct contact with our Israeli partners.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit the area this weekend, and the State Department said there were no changes to his schedule.

The attack comes as violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has escalated. On Thursday, the Israeli army carried out its deadliest raid there in years, killing at least nine people, including a 61-year-old woman. Israel said it was raiding the home of an activist in the overcrowded Jenin refugee camp.

Following this, militants from the Gaza Strip fired rockets at Israel and Israeli warplanes bombed Hamas sites in Gaza a day after the deadliest Israeli raid in the West Bank in years. No injuries were reported in the rocket fire or airstrikes.

This is a developing story. Please check for updates.