Six people killed in suspected terror attack in Tel Aviv, Israeli police say

From Sky News and the Telegraph

At least six people have been killed and nine were injured in a shooting and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv, Israeli police have said.

Two terrorists, who were identified as Muhammad Chalaf Sahar Rajab and Hassan Muhammad Hassan Tamimi from Hebron in the West Bank, went on a “killing spree”, according to police, opening fire at people waiting for the light rail in Jaffa.

The suspects opened fire on a boulevard in Jaffa, a mixed Arab-Jewish neighbourhood in southern Tel Aviv.

The pair were then killed by civilians and inspectors using personal pistols.

“It seems the terrorist’s weapon malfunctioned during the shooting,” said Hanan Peretz, a security guard who responded to the incident. Mr Peretz also praised the actions of his colleagues. “They identified the gunman, took cover without hesitation, and fired at him.”

Five of the wounded remained in serious condition, including a child.

Footage filmed from a balcony on a nearby building showed bodies lying on the ground at the station while gunshots could be heard in the background.

Surveillance footage showed the two armed terrorists roaming the area in what appeared to be during the attack.

Police initially believed the shooting attack was criminal as the area’s crime rate is high. But after hearing shouts of “Allah Akbar”, they arrived at the scene, according to the Jerusalem Post.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack but Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said the suspects were Palestinians from the West Bank city of Hebron.

Haim Sargrof, Tel Aviv’s district commander . . . (said) “…We know their origin and are conducting further checks with the Shin Bet. They are not Israeli citizens,” he stated.

Police officers and an Israel Defence Forces counterterrorism unit later conducted searches in the area, which included a raid on a mosque that the attackers reportedly emerged from before the rampage. Several people were detained on suspicion of involvement in the attack, according to Israeli media.

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, said he would demand that the terrorists’ family members be deported “to Gaza tonight” at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting and that their homes be demolished.