The shooting attack in Jerusalem on Sunday in which two Israelis were killed and five injured could indicate a return of religiously-motivated Palestinian violence to Israel's capital.

The attack, carried out by Musbah Abu Sbeih, a resident of east Jerusalem, conformed to a pattern of terrorism seen in recent years in that it consisted of an individual acting without support from any organisation. There were some key differences, however.

In the previous wave of violence, which began last year and dissipated about six months ago, nearly all the attackers were young men and women who had not previously been on the radar of the security services. Abu Sbeih, however, was 39 and had a long history of clashes with police, largely due to his activity within proscribed Islamist groups on Temple Mount.

On Sunday, he was due to begin a four-month prison term for attacking a police officer in Jerusalem. Instead, he drove up the main road towards Ammunition Hill, and opened fire on people standing at a light-rail stop.

One of the casualties was 60-year-old Nava Melichi, a pensioner who used to work in the Knesset. He was critically injured and died soon afterwards. Abu Sbeih continued driving towards the Palestinian area of Sheikh Jarrah, where police officers on motorcycles overtook him. In the gun battle that ensued, he was killed, but not before fatally shooting 29-year-old sergeant Yossef Kirma.

Another difference between this attack and recent ones were the weapons used. Most attackers have used either knives or vehicles, or at worst makeshift "Carlo" guns, but Abu Sbeih had an M-16 assault rifle and a hand-grenade, which could indicate access to funds or contacts with a terror group.

The PA has not condemned the attack. Its main political party, Fatah, congratulated Abu Sbeih's family online - as did Hamas and Islamic Jihad - for his act of "martyrdom".

Security forces fear that other would-be attackers could also be motivated by the situation on the Temple Mount during the High Holy Days.