Israeli Minister Slams BBC For Its Coverage Of Jerusalem Truck-Ramming Attack

JERUSALEM – Education Minister Naftali Bennett slammed the BBC for its coverage of Sunday’s terror attack in Jerusalem with a headline focusing on the death of the truck “driver” who “allegedly” rammed into pedestrians.

The BBC headline, which followed a vehicular terror attack that claimed the lives of at least four soldiers and injured an additional 15, originally read: “Driver of lorry shot in Jerusalem after allegedly ramming pedestrians, injuring at least 15, Israeli media report.”

The BBC’s main story on the attack now reads: “Jerusalem attack: Four dead after lorry driver rams soldiers.”

Bennett took the British news corporation to task for failing to mention the other deaths, for including the word “allegedly,” and for not labeling the driver as a terrorist.

“Yup, BBC. Driver–not terrorist–shot. He only “allegedly” murdered 4 Israelis,” Bennett, head of the Jewish Home party, tweeted.

Yup, BBC. Driver–not terrorist–shot.
He only “allegedly” murdered 4 Israelis. pic.twitter.com/eLdgZO66e0

— Naftali Bennett בנט (@naftalibennett) January 8, 2017

The attack took place by the promenade in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of Jerusalem, a popular tourist outlook on the Old City. Four of the soldiers who died were in their twenties, and three of them were women.

Watch a video of the attack here (warning: graphic footage)

According to eyewitnesses, after the terrorist ran his flatbed truck over the soldiers, he reversed over them a second time.

Some of the pedestrians became trapped under the truck, an MDA paramedic on the scene said.

According to Arab media, the driver was identified as Fadi al-Qanbar, an Arab resident of east Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat responded to the attack saying terrorists must “pay a heavy price.”

“There is no limit to the cruelty of the terrorists who are willing to use any means possible to murder Jews and to damage the daily life of Israel’s capital,” Barkat said.

“Those who incite and fan the flames and those who support terror must pay a heavy price. I call on the residents of Jerusalem and the country at large to be alert and, despite this difficult terror attack, to carry on with your daily routines and do not let terror win,” he added.