2 Israeli Officers Killed Near Jerusalem Holy Site

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JERUSALEM (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Israel say three gunmen opened fire near one of Jerusalem's holiest sites on Friday, killing two officers.

The attackers were then killed by security forces.

Israeli security forces stand guard in Jerusalem's Old City on July 14, 2017 following a shooting attack. (Photo: THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement saying he was "deeply saddened by the heinous attacks."

"In times of crisis, friends stand shoulder to shoulder," Cuomo said. "Today I express my deep condolences to the members of this unit as they mourn the loss of two of their own and to the people of Israel as they come together after this attack."

The site is known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. It's the holiest site in Judaism and the third-holiest in Islam.

The site has been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian violence in the past.