Seven people have been shot dead at a synagogue in East Jerusalem, and at least three more people were injured, BBC News reported.

The incident happened in the city's Neve Yaakov neighborhood at about 20:15 local time (18:15 GMT).

Police described the attacker as a "terrorist" and said he had been "neutralized."

Local media identified him as a Palestinian man from East Jerusalem.

Israeli worshippers had gathered for prayers at the start of the Jewish Sabbath in a synagogue in the Jewish settlement and were leaving when the gunman opened fire. Police say that officers then shot him dead.