TWO KILLED, 8 WOUNDED IN TEL AVIV SHOOTING ATTACK, MANHUNT UNDERWAY

Thu 07 April 2022:

At least two people were killed and another eight wounded in a series of shootings in central Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Hours after the shooting, the suspected gunman remained at large. Hundreds of Israeli police officers, canine units, and army special forces were conducting a massive manhunt in central Tel Aviv, searching building by building through the densely populated residential neighbourhoods.

تحديث طبي: مصاب بالغ الخطورة، مصابان بحالة خطيرة، ومصاب بحالة متوسطة.

تقديرات إسرائيلية: منفّذان لا واحد.

— أحمد دراوشة (@AhDarawsha) April 7, 2022

BREAKING UPDATE: At least 6 dead, 15 injured, some in critical condition, following a mass shooting in Tel Aviv. Two terrorists reportedly stormed several restaurants. pic.twitter.com/xm5Bh8uWxW

— Israeli Reporter (@IsraeliReporter) April 7, 2022

TV networks report, without citing sources, that the attacker may be a Palestinian from the northern West Bank.

Channel 13 says security forces are looking into such suspicions.

Police say the suspect is believed to have been wearing a black T-shirt, black pants, and carrying a blue backpack.

Amichai Eshed, the Tel Aviv police commander, said the shooter opened fire into a crowded bar at around 9pm (18:00 GMT) and then fled the scene.

Live footage from Israel’s Kan broadcaster showed police flooding the area and training their guns on the upper story of a building. It also showed an explosion of some kind.

gazanow: interrogation of special forces of the terrorist Israeli occupation army to the now occupied city of Tel Aviv to clash with Palestinian guerrillas 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/gEgwqtbmdM

— Johann Spischak (@SDGMasterglass) April 7, 2022

Two of the wounded later died, The Times of Israel reported, citing officials at Ichilov Medical Center. The hospital was treating eight others – four who were in “critical condition” and undergoing surgery.

Two confirmed dead in shooting attack that took place less than an hour ago in the heart of Tel Aviv.

Four wounded individuals are currently in surgery in serious or critical condition.

Four others are in moderate or light condition.

No updates on status of gunman or gunmen.

— Amy Spiro (@AmySpiro) April 7, 2022

Hebrew media reports the elite military forces are participating in the searches for the Tel Aviv shooter, including members of Sayeret Matkal.

According to Channel 12 some 1,000 people are taking part in the manhunt.

The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, but tensions have soared following recent attacks by Palestinians that killed 11 people in Israel.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett meets in Tel Aviv with senior security officials, including Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Public Security Minister Omer Barlev, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata, and Military Secretary Avi Gil.

According to a statement released by the prime minister’s office, Bennett is presented with details of the attack and the efforts to locate the perpetrator, who is still on the loose.

The forum agrees to continue sending police and Shin Bet reinforcements to Tel Aviv.

Islamic Jihad praises attack, doesn’t claim responsibility

A senior Islamic Jihad official praises the apparent terror attack in Tel Aviv, without indicating whether the terror group was responsible for it.

“This heroic operation deep in Tel Aviv confirms how frail [Israel] is, how susceptible it is to being broken,” says senior Islamic Jihad member Yousef al-Hasayneh.

“Resistance operations are a natural response to Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people,” senior Hamas official Mushir al-Masri told Al-Jazeera television.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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