International News

JERUSALEM, (APP/AFP) – A Palestinian killed by Israeli
police this week was not attempting a car-ramming attack on officers as
had been initially claimed, police said on Wednesday.
Police originally said they opened fire on Monday during a car-ramming attack targeting officers in the Shuafat refugee camp in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
One of the men in the car was killed and the driver was wounded, police said. There were no casualties among the officers.
On Wednesday, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said they were now
investigating the driver of the car, Ali Nimr, 20, for manslaughter,
involuntary manslaughter, driving without a licence, driving under the
influence of alcohol and reckless endangerment.
The manslaughter investigation indicated police were holding
Nimr responsible for the death of his cousin, Mustafa Nimr, 27, who was
shot dead by police.
An inquiry has also been opened by the Israeli justice ministry
unit that probes police activity, Samri said.
Israel’s Channel 10 television broadcast video of the incident
that appeared to show shots being fired after the car was stopped, with Mustafa Nimr already on the ground either wounded or dead.
The two men were returning to the camp after buying pizzas, a
witness told Channel 10 on condition of anonymity.
Haaretz newspaper reported that Mustafa Nimr’s Jewish girlfriend
and his brother were following them in a second vehicle.
It said Mustafa Nimr grew up in Shuafat but was living in the
Tel Aviv area at the time.
Haaretz quoted witnesses as saying the car did not endanger
police and they were racing at the time.
The border police who opened fire had been in the camp for a
separate raid, authorities said. Police carry out such raids regularly
in search of weapons or wanted suspects.