Knife-wielding man in Lod killed by police, who say it was a terror attack

Patrol spots local carrying blade, but he charges at them when they attempt to intervene; cousin claims suspect was known to have mental health issues

By Charlie Summers

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Today, 1:29 pm

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Officers shot and killed a suspect who tried to stab an officer in a terror attack in the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Lod on Wednesday, the Israel Police said Wednesday.

According to police, officers on patrol noticed the suspect, a resident of the central city in his 30s, with a knife in his hand, and called on him to stop. Instead, the suspect ran toward police and tried to stab one of the officers.

“The officer shot at the assailant and neutralized him,” police said.

No officers were injured in the incident.

Large numbers of police were deployed to the area, and Central District police commander Amir Cohen visited the scene, police said. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation.

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A relative of the suspect claimed that he suffered from mental health issues and was known to police.

“Everyone knows him in Lod, and the police know him. A patrol car full of officers couldn’t get control of him?” the suspect’s cousin, who was not named, said to Channel 13.

בניגוד לטענת המשפחה המשטרה מפרסמת תיעוד של החשוד בניסיון הפיגוע בעיר לוד כאשר הוא מסתובב עם סכין בידו. pic.twitter.com/plLzYB2E9e

— ידידיה אפשטיין (@yedidya_epstien) July 1, 2026

Israel: A YASAM police officer in Lod was targeted in an attempted terror attack. The terrorist has been eliminated. pic.twitter.com/Q0USeCmeuZ

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) July 1, 2026

Last month, an Arab Israeli terrorist opened fire in several locations in a shooting spree in central Israel, killing an IDF reservist and wounding five people before he was shot dead by security forces. Police also arrested a second man accused of involvement in the attack.

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