A Jewish Israeli man has been shot dead near Jerusalem's Western Wall after a guard mistook him for a Palestinian militant, police say.
Gunfire was heard on Friday morning at the wall - one of Judaism's holiest sites visited by thousands of worshippers each week.
Police say the guard shot the man after hearing him shout "Allahu Akbar".
Hundreds of worshippers were attending morning prayers at the time. The area was closed to visitors.
The incident took place at about 07:40 local time (04:40 GMT).
A police spokesman said the guard drew his weapon and fired a number of shots at the man after hearing him shout "Allahu Akbar" (God is great, in Arabic).
The man was seen pulling something from his pocket as he emerged from a public toilet at the wall compound, Israeli media reported.
The Western Wall (or so-called Wailing Wall) is part of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount (known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif), dating back to a time when a Jewish temple stood on the Mount.
Jews go to the Western Wall to pray and leave prayers on pieces of paper between its ancient stones.
The site and the area around it has in the past been a flashpoint for violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
Western Wall
- Remnant of outer retaining wall of second Jewish Temple, destroyed in 70AD
- One of Judaism's holiest sites
- Also known as Wailing Wall because of centuries of Jewish mourning there for loss of the Temple
- Part of Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif - frequent flashpoint for violence between Jews and Palestinians
- Jerusalem's holiest sites
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