A knife-wielding Palestinian has attacked passengers on a bus in Tel Aviv, wounding at least 12 people before being shot by a passing prison officer, Israeli police say.
It was the first attack in Tel Aviv since mid-November when a young Israeli soldier was stabbed to death by a Palestinian.
The attacker struck in the morning rush hour on Wednesday in the heart of Israel's commercial capital, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said, describing him as a "terrorist".
Twelve people were wounded in the attack, including three who were in serious condition, four in moderate condition, and five who sustained light injuries, hospital sources said.
Another seven people were treated for shock.
"The terrorist stabbed the bus driver several times, but the driver fought back until he fled on foot and was neutralised by a guard from the prisons' service," a police statement said.
The man was shot in the leg, and taken to hospital.
Witnesses told army radio the driver apparently used pepper spray or tear gas to try to stop the attack.
Police identified the attacker as a 23-year-old Palestinian from Tulkarem in the northern West Bank, who was staying in Israeli illegally.
Pictures from the scene released by the police showed what looked like a large kitchen knife lying on the ground.
Speaking to army radio, the prisons service officer, identified only as Benny, described how the incident played out.
"We saw the bus swerve to the side ... then stop at a green light," he said.
"Suddenly, we saw people running out of the bus and when we saw them shouting for help, we jumped out (of our vehicle) and I and three others started running after the terrorist. At first we fired in the air, then at his legs.
"The terrorist fell, we handcuffed him and turned him over to police," he told the radio.
The last attack in Tel Aviv was on November 10 when a Palestinian from the northern West Bank stabbed a young Israeli soldier who later died of his injuries.
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