Israeli troops kill Palestinian teen armed with toy pistol

GlobalPost

Israeli soldiers today shot and killed a 16-year-old after the Palestinian youth brandished a toy pistol at them, reported BBC News.

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Clashes reportedly erupted after the shooting in the West Bank city of Hebron, said BBC, which took place near a place considered holy by both Jews and Muslims. Palestinian sources identified the young man as Mohammed Ziad Sulaima. 

The incident comes two days after Israeli troops killed an axe-weidling Palestinian in the West Bank, according to The Australian

Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said the young man held up the fake gun that border guards thought was real, prompting them to fire, said BBC.

The Australian cited a police spokesperson as saying guards had asked for the young man's identity cards and were alarmed by the sight of a weapon.

"Another border guard who was nearby opened fire killing the Palestinian," the spokesperson said, adding that bomb specialists later found the weapon was only a "toy made of metal."

The following photo, which is supposedly of Sulaima but which has not been confirmed, has been making the rounds on Facebook and Twitter: 

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