Return to Target Terrorism a Tel Aviv. At least two dead were reported in the Israeli city, with more injured. It happened early this evening: on the central Dizengoff Street, passersby heard several shots. It was immediately clear that something serious had happened.
video of the scene. credit @udi_shaham pic.twitter.com/zB6RWRmMSv
Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) April 7, 2022
The security forces immediately intervened on site. The police spokesman said at least two terrorists, acting from two different locations on the street, were involved. In the videos from Tel Aviv, passersby can be seen running away immediately after the first shots are fired. Many have found refuge in the shops in the area that were open at the time, while others have entered other indoor spaces such as bars and restaurants or opendoor residential buildings.
The arrival of security forces partly calmed down. All citizens in the area have been secured and authorities have urged people not to leave their homes. But the danger has not yet been finally averted. The latest news speaks of one terrorist neutralized while another is still on the run.
House by house and street by street is being searched: the military police have surrounded the area and are searching every block for the assassin. The danger is that he has left Tel Aviv and can carry out new attacks. Thoughts also go to those injured in the shooting. According to doctors at Ichilov Medical Center, as reported by The Time Of Israel newspaper, four have undergone surgery and are currently in serious condition.
The attackers acted by firing shots from head height, reaching several passersby. The hope is that the attack will not increase the number of victims.
Fourth attack in a few weeks
There is now a climate of great tension in Israel. The attack wasn’t the first in the past month. On the contrary, it’s already the fourth within a few weeks. The most serious so far was that of Beersheva on March 22nd. In this case it was a white weapon attack by an ArabIsraeli and 4 people died. The various attacks over the past month have all been carried out with knives, today’s being the first with a gun.
Concern was expressed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who is in Tel Aviv and following events from Defense Ministry headquarters. In the last few days, the secret service had spoken about the dangers to security due to the simultaneous Ramadan and Passover. Of gaza Hamas members cheered, even shooting in the air to “celebrate” the attack. “We welcome this operation,” he said Mahmoud aZaharone of the leaders of the movement which is a consequence of the ongoing aggression in our country and in our holy places”.
“We oppose attempts to impose a Jewish character on Jerusalem continued aZahar and against the entry of ‘colonì into the alAqsa Mosque. We are determined to defend Jerusalem with blood and fire.