³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Jerusalem Gay Pride: Israel teenage stabbing victim dies

  • Published
Media caption,

A candlelit vigil for Shira Banki took place in Tel Aviv on Sunday

A teenage girl who was stabbed at a Gay Pride march in Jerusalem has died from her wounds, doctors say.

Shira Banki, 16, was one of six people attacked at the event on Thursday.

Yishai Schlissel, an ultra-Orthodox Jew, who carried out a similar attack in 2005, was arrested at the scene.

Israel's government would have "zero tolerance" for Jewish extremists, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a security cabinet meeting on Sunday.

His comments also followed a separate attack in which an 18-month old Palestinian child died when his West Bank home was firebombed by suspected Jewish settlers.

The cabinet approved new measures to tackle ultra-nationalist violence against Palestinians, including detention without trial of Israelis.

The policy of detention without trial has long been used against Palestinians, but observers believe it has rarely been used against Israelis.

No arrests have been made so far over the West Bank attack.

'End the violence'

Hours after Shira Banki died, a vigil was held for her near the place she was stabbed. Hundreds of people attended, among them school friends, teachers, members of the gay community and supporters.

Dramatic images of Thursday's attack in Jerusalem showed the suspect reaching inside his coat and raising a knife above his head.

He then began stabbing marchers while screaming, before being tackled by a police officer.

Image source, AP
Image caption,

A photographer captured the moments before the attack

Image source, AP
Image caption,

Schlissel was released from prison just three weeks ago after serving 10 years for the 2005 attack

'We marched through blood'

The parade continued after the wounded were taken to hospital, with protesters chanting "end the violence".

Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the attack as "a most serious incident".

The Gay Pride event has long been a source of tension between Jerusalem's secular minority and its Jewish Orthodox communities.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Thousands attended an anti-homophobia rally on Saturday in Jerusalem

Correction 4 August 2015: This story, which incorrectly said Jerusalem's secular community formed a majority in the city, has been amended.