An Orthodox Jew, identified as Yihai Shlissel, stabbed six people at a gay pride parade in Jerusalem on Thursday. The man executed the same crime at the same parade in 2005, stabbing three people and was locked up afterwards. He was released from prison three weeks ago, CNN reported.
The police arrested Shlissel before he could hurt more people, but two of the six victims were severely injured, according to Luba Samri, spokesperson for the Israel police.
Four of these victims were hospitalized until midnight while a 16-year-old victim is still struggling to live, according to Ynet News.
"In the state of Israel the individual's freedom of choice is one of basic values. We must ensure that in Israel, every man and woman lives in security in any way they choose. That's how we acted in the past and how we'll continue to act. I wish the wounded a speedy recovery," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced.
Israeli President Reuvin Rivlin said: "We must not be deluded, a lack of tolerance will lead us to disaster. We cannot allow such crimes, and we must condemn those who commit and support them."
Since the gay pride parade causes a deeper rift between the secular groups and Jewish Orthodox communities of Jerusalem, the police allowed 30 religious protesters to demonstrate their disapproval of the parade at the Great Synagogue nearby. Jerusalem spokesperson Asi Ahroni told Reuters that they were able to assign hundreds of police all over the parade in case crimes or violent attacks ensue. Despite their efforts, the man was still able to carry out a weapon and stab people, BBC reported.
"All we ask and expect is that LGBTQ people are free and safe to live in Jerusalem. This is only a sign we need to continue our work and our marches," per a statement by the Jerusalem Opera House, a group that supports the city's LGBT community, according to the New York Times.
