Jerusalem, Oct 9 (IANS): At least eight persons were injured in a drive-by shooting attack in Jerusalem on Sunday.

The shooting took place at Ammunition Hill light rail station, near the national headquarters of the Israel police, Haaretz news reported.

According to Magen David Adom -- Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service -- two of the victims were critically wounded and three sustained minor injuries, during the initial shooting at the light rail station.

Another victim was then shot and injured at the nearby Clermont-Ganneau Street. The assailant then fled to Sheikh Jarrah, where two Israel police personnel were injured.

Police then shot the assailant, identified as a 39-year-old resident of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem. He died from his wounds a short time later.

Hamas praised the attack, calling it a "natural response to the crimes of the occupation," Haaretz news reported.

The last terror attack in Jerusalem occurred on September 19 when two police officers were wounded, one seriously, in a stabbing attack in the Old City. The alleged assailant was subdued, according to the police.

A few days earlier, a Jordanian citizen was shot after he allegedly tried to stab Israeli Border Police officers near Damascus Gate in the Old City.