The Arab terrorist who was shot twice after running down four Border Police officers and a civilian in Jerusalem earlier this month confessed that he planned the attack and hoped to “kill as many security personnel as possible,” police said on Monday. 
      
According to spokesman Micky Rosenfeld,  Mohammed Salaima, 22, of Ras el-Amud, admitted during questioning by police and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) that he bought an axe the morning of the attack before driving his car into officers stationed at Border Police headquarters.
“What we know is that the suspect went to the Old City during the early hours of the morning of the incident to buy an axe and made a final decision to carry out the attack at the precise location to kill as many security personnel as he could,” said Rosenfeld.
At 9:50 a.m. on March 6, Salaima then drove his silver Honda into five officers walking through an intersection outside police headquarters located on the Green Line next to the Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, before striking a civilian on a bicycle.
Salaima then crashed the car and proceeded to exit the vehicle wielding the axe and attempted to attack other civilians and officers when a Border Police officer and security guard shot him twice.
The four officers and pedestrian were treated at the scene by Magen David Adom paramedics before being transferred to an area hospital for light-to-moderate wounds. Salaima was hospitalized for serious wounds.
“The quick response of the officer and security guard prevented any further civilians and officers from being injured,” Rosenfeld said.
On Monday morning, a judge extended Slaima’s remand pending a formal indictment expected to be filed in the coming days, he said.