Attacker stabs guard at U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv

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A man stabbed a security guard at the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv on Tuesday (November 20) and was apprehended, a police spokesman said, and Israel Radio reported the assailant was an Israeli with a criminal background.

The motive for the attack, which occurred outside the beachfront embassy, was not immediately known.

"There was a suspect who came along with a knife and with an axe and tried to stab the security guard. The security guard fired warning shots in the air and managed to hold the suspect down on the floor. Police units arrived at the scene and the suspect was handed over. he is now being questioned by our units with heightened security around the american embassy. it's not clear what the background was of that incident or if he worked alone sot therefore we're not taking any chances whatsoever," police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said.

The police spokesman said one of the guards was slightly wounded and the attacker was taken into custody. Israel Radio said the assailant was a 41-year-old Israeli Jew with a criminal record.