A man set three Israel Police officers on fire on Thursday morning at a gas station near the Kiryat Bialik mall, north of Haifa.
Police said the officers were dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of a man exhibiting suicidal behavior. Upon their arrival, the suspect poured a flammable liquid on one of the officers and set him alight. Two other officers were burned while attempting to restrain the man and assist their colleague.
The suspect, a 33-year-old resident of Kiryat Motzkin, fled the scene but was apprehended following a short foot chase. Police requested an extension of his detention, which the court granted later Thursday afternoon.
Police officer set on fire in Israel's North
Magen David Adom medics evacuated the officers to Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. One officer was listed in moderate condition with second-degree burns. The two others were in light condition.
“When I arrived at the scene, I saw a man suffering from burns to his upper body and two additional men in light condition,” said senior MDA paramedic Ibrahim Kaabiya. “Together with other MDA teams, we provided medical treatment and evacuated them to the hospital, with one in moderate condition with second-degree burns and two in light condition.”
Rambam Hospital later reported that the injured officer was hospitalized in the ICU with burns on his head and neck and was initially intubated as a result of concerns regarding swelling of his airways. However, the burns themselves are not deep, and as the swelling subsides, his condition will improve. He is expected to be weaned off the ventilator in the coming days.
The other two officers did not require hospitalization and are expected to be discharged to their homes soon.