TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A knife-wielding [Muslim Terrorist] stabbed 11 morning commuters on and near a bus Wednesday, striking in the heart of Tel Aviv and reigniting fears of continued violence ahead of Israeli elections in March.

The attack was the latest in a spate of [Arab Muslim] attacks against Israelis [Jews] over recent months, which has been largely reserved to Jerusalem but also has spilled over to the West Bank and Tel Aviv.

Tuesday’s stabbing [terror attack] took place near a busy intersection during morning rush hour. Police identified the attacker as Hamza Mohammed Matrouk, 23, from the West Bank town of Tulkarem. Police said Matrouk confessed to the attack…

Gaza’s ruling Hamas praised the attack, calling it “brave and heroic,” but did not claim responsibility…

Police and witnesses said Matrouk was riding on the bus when he began stabbing passengers and the driver. He fled the bus but was chased down and shot by prison service officers nearby. They shot Matrouk in the leg and arrested him.

The bus driver, Herzl Biton, was stabbed in the upper body and liver and underwent surgery, his niece Cheli Shushan said. Witnesses said Biton used pepper spray to deter the attacker and slammed on the brakes to jar him. After being stabbed, Biton flung open the doors to allow passengers to flee.

At the scene of the attack, a Jewish head covering lay beside headphones on the floor of the bus, with blood splattered nearby.

Video aired by Israeli television station Channel 10 showed Matrouk running down the street and stabbing a woman in the back as he tried to escape.