Three assailants killed amidst shooting attack in East Jerusalem

Three assailants carried out a shooting attack, wounding three Israeli policemen outside the al-Aqsa compound in East Jerusalem on Friday morning, were shot dead, the police said.

The incident occurred after the morning prayers in the flashpoint holy site of the al-Aqsa compound.

According to police spokeswoman Luba Samri, three armed men opened fire towards a group of police officers that were stationed near the gates of the compound.

Three policemen were wounded in the shooting. Two police officers were taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The third casualty suffers moderate wounds, Israel's emergency medical service said in a statement.

"After the shooting, they had run away towards the mosques in the compound," Samri said, but the assailants were shot dead by the police following a manhunt.

Two Carl Gustaf rifles and a handgun were found in a search on their bodies.

Commander of the Jerusalem District Yoram Halevi ordered to shut down the compound after the incident, canceling all the Friday prayers in the site.

SOURCE: XINHUA