Attackers kill two policemen at Jerusalem holy site

Israeli officials on Friday closed a major Jerusalem holy site revered by Jews and Muslims after three gunmen staged an attack near the site. The gunmen opened fire on Israeli police, who chased them back into the shrine’s compound and shot them dead. Two police officials also died in the shooting. Israeli police chief Roni Alsheikh identified the gunmen as Arab citizens of Israel. The holy site is revered by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and by Jews as the Temple Mount. Several Muslim worshippers held their noon prayers near the walled Old City after security officials closed down the site to search for more weapons. Alsheikh called the attack inside the holy site unprecedented, and officials fear it could be the start of an escalation in regional violence. Signaling the seriousness of the situation, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss what happened.