Sgt-Maj Constantine Danilov

Mar 30, 2002 - Border Policeman Sgt.-Maj. Constantine Danilov, 23, of Or Akiva was shot and killed in Baka al-Garbiyeh, during an exchange of fire with two Palestinians trying to cross into Israel to carry out a suicide attack.

The clash occurred in a narrow street in the heart of the Israeli town of Baka al-Gharbiya which adjoins the Green Line. The border policemen were on patrol in the area after receiving information that terrorists were trying to infiltrate Israeli territory to carry out an attack. Danilov was in a jeep with other border policemen who spotted a suspicious car. They called to the driver to stop. The vehicle slowed and one of the occupants jumped out and began firing from an M-16 automatic rifle. Danilov was fatally wounded. The Palestinian gunman was shot dead by other border policemen, and the other terrorist was killed when he detonated the bomb strapped to his body.

Danilov was a member of the Border Police northern region's Harish unit, which he joined as a regular six months ago after completing his compulsory army service in the Border Police in Judea and Samaria. Dep.-Cmdr. Yisrael Yitzhak, head of the Border Police Green Line command, said there was no doubt that his men had prevented a serious terror attack inside Israel.

Constantine Danilov immigrated to Israel from Moscow nine years ago. His father, Gray, who works as a dentist, divides his time between Israel and Russia, and his mother, Ludmilla, works at a factory near Or Akiva.

"He was a great fellow who liked to help out with everything," said a friend.

Sgt.-Maj. Constantine Danilov was buried in the military section of the Or Akiva cemetery. He is survived by his parents.