Jerusalem stabbing: Ultra-Orthodox Jewish suspect 'carried out similar attack at gay pride event 10 years ago'

Yishai Schlissel was jailed for 12 years after stabbing three people at a similar event a decade ago, police have said

Yishai Schlissel was arrested after six people were stabbed at a Gay Pride event in Jerusalem (Getty Images )

The ultra-Orthodox Jewish man arrested over the stabbing of six people at a Gay Pride event in Jerusalem carried out a similar attack 10 years ago, it has emerged.

Six people were wounded when a man jumped into the crowds at the event, apparently after emerging from a supermarket, armed with a knife.

Two of the victims are still in hospital in a serious condition.

Police arrested the suspected perpetrator, Yishai Schlissel, at the event, and a spokesman has now said he is the same man who stabbed three people at a similar event in 2005, the BBC reports.

The Gay Pride parade is held in the largely Jewish side of the divided city of Jerusalem.

It has long been a focus of tension between Israel's predominantly secular majority and the ultra-Orthodox Jewish minority, who object to public displays of homosexuality.

Gay marriages performed inside Israel are not recognised by the authorities.

About 5,000 people were marching as part of yesterday’s event when witnesses said they heard people screaming and running for cover, and saw “bloodied people on the ground”.

"Bloodied" bodies were seen and screams heard at the event after the attacker struck (Getty Images)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the stabbings as “a despicable hate crime” and said Israel would prosecute those responsible.

"Freedom of individual choice is a basic value in Israel," he added.

Additional reporting by Reuters