Authorities have revealed that police in Jerusalem shot and killed a Palestinian motorist after he allegedly intentionally ran over two Israeli border patrolmen.

Haaretz newspaper has reported that the driver hit the two officers, who suffered light injures, in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi al-Joz on Friday. Police say the motorist drove on for a short distance and then fled the scene on foot, and officers opened fire when he ignored orders to stop.

Haaretz also reported that the man was evacuated from the scene by the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service, leading to a delay in the official confirmation of his death.

Authorities further noted that earlier in the day, Israeli police had been put on raised alertness levels against possible riots growing out of the interdiction of a Gaza-bound flotilla. (With Inputs from Agencies)