4 Israelis, 2 Palestinians killed in synagogue attack in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Four Israeli civilians were killed Tuesday when two knife- and axe-wielding men broke into a synagogue in Jerusalem, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said.

The attackers, identified as Palestinians, were shot and killed, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Authorities are investigating whether the men also were armed with guns.

An undetermined number of people were injured when the two men entered the building in the Har Nof area of Jerusalem in what Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner called a "terror attack."

Residents have been warned to stay inside while police continue to search for a possible third suspect in the area.



Other deaths and stabbing attacks have occurred recently in Jerusalem, raising tensions.

The synagogue attack occurred not far from where a Palestinian bus driver, Yousuf al-Ramouni of Jerusalem, was found hanged on Sunday, CNN's Ben Wedeman reported.

Police said the death was a suicide, but the driver's brother described seeing bruises and "signs of blood" on his brother's back.

Also on Sunday, an Israeli was stabbed with a screwdriver near central Jerusalem. That stabbing victim was taken to the hospital in moderate condition, Rosenfeld said Sunday.

Last week, a 20-year-old was stabbed and killed in Tel Aviv, and three people were stabbed -- one fatally -- near the entrance to a settlement in the West Bank.

The latter incident took place at the same hitchhiking spot where three Israeli teens were kidnapped earlier this year; they were later killed.