Police: Israeli Police Officer Stabbed in Jerusalem

Israeli police officers stand guard at the scene of a stabbing attack outside the Damascus gate in Jerusalem's old city, Sunday, June 21, 2015. A Palestinian assailant stabbed and critically wounded an Israeli policeman in Jerusalem's Old City. The policeman shot the attacker, critically wounding him, before collapsing and being rushed to a hospital. AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean

JERUSALEM— Israeli police say a Palestinian man has stabbed an Israeli paramilitary police officer, critically injuring him.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the police officer was stabbed in the neck Sunday outside the Old City of Jerusalem and was taken to hospital. The officer managed to shoot at his attacker and critically wounded him as well.

The attack comes two days after a gunman opened fire on a car outside a West Bank settlement, killing an Israeli man and wounding another.

Israel saw a wave of so-called “lone wolf” attacks last year by Palestinians using guns, knives and vehicles in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the West Bank. Police say it’s difficult to stop such attacks because assailants act on their own, without working through established militant groups.