TEL AVIV An American tourist was stabbed to death and at least nine other people were wounded by a Palestinian armed with a knife on a popular boardwalk in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, authorities said, while U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was in a meeting a few kilometers (miles) away.
The attack took place in the popular Jaffa port area, which is a favorite spot among tourists. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said four of the wounded had severe injuries.
"A terrorist, an illegal resident who came from somewhere in the Palestinian territories, came here to Jaffa and embarked on a run ... along the boardwalk. On his way he indiscriminately stabbed people," Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai told Army Radio.
He said a police officer eventually caught up with the attacker and shot him dead.
The U.S. State Department strongly condemned the attack and identified the slain American as Taylor Allen Force.
"As we have said many times, there is absolutely no justification for terrorism. We continue to encourage all parties to take affirmative steps to reduce tensions and restore calm," it said in a statement.
Biden arrived in Israel late on Tuesday for a two-day visit, and was meeting former Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jaffa around the time of the stabbings.
Tuesday also saw three other attacks by Palestinians.
In Jerusalem, a Palestinian opened fire at Israeli police on a crowded street, seriously wounding two officers, before being shot dead, and a 50-year-old Palestinian woman who tried to stab Israeli police officers was also shot and killed.
In the Tel Aviv suburb of Petah Tikva, a Palestinian entered a store and stabbed an Israeli. The wounded man and the store owner together overpowered the attacker and fought him off using the same knife. The attacker died of his wounds, a police spokesman said.
Since October, Palestinian stabbings, shootings and car rammings have killed 28 Israelis and two Americans. Israeli forces have killed at least 177 Palestinians, 119 of whom Israel says were assailants. Most others were shot dead during violent protests.
(Reporting by Rami Amichay; Additional reporting by Washington Newsroom; Writing by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Sandra Maler)
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