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Three dead in Tel Aviv market shooting Three dead in Tel Aviv market shooting
(35 minutes later)
Three people have been killed and at least six injured in a shooting attack on an open-air market in central Tel Aviv, according to Israeli police. Three people have been killed in a shooting attack on at a popular retail complex in central Tel Aviv.
The shooting on Wednesday evening took place near the popular Sarona complex, close to the Israeli military’s main headquarters. The shooting on Wednesday evening took place around the Sarona complex, an area with shops and restaurants close to the Israeli military’s main headquarters.
A police spokeswoman said the shooting involved at least two attackers who had both been “neutralized” – a word which can mean either killed or detained. According to initial reports two gunmen were involved: one firing inside the Sarona complex itself and the other in an adjacent street.
A paramedic spokesman said personnel who attended the scene treated nine wounded people, one of whom – a woman – was described as being in life-threatening condition. Officials said both gunmen were shot and disarmed by security forces.
The alleged assailant was also shot and injured close to the scene of the shooting. “The preliminary investigation indicates that there are a number of wounded who are being treated by paramedics,” Israeli police said in a statement. “We ask the public not to approach the area.”
According to one witness – quoted by Israel radio – two gunmen were involved, one of whom was shot and the other arrested. The Guardian could not initially confirm this claim. Although details were sparse it appears shots were initially fired at people walking in the street near a restaurant and then in an adjoining street.
In addition to the three confirmed dead by Israeli police, five others were wounded, several of whom were described as being in a serious condition.
Yechiel Miller, a volunteer medic with United Hatzalah, related from the scene of the attack: “When I arrived at the scene I saw a woman who was unconscious and not breathing and in critical condition. We began resuscitation efforts. We also treated numerous other individuals who suffered gunshot wounds and wounds from shrapnel.”
The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, who has just returned from a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, went straight to the Kirya – the Israeli military’s headquarters close to the Sarona complex – to be briefed on the incident.
There were conflicting reports over some details of the attack: several eyewitnesses claimed the two men reportedly involved had been sitting at one of the Sarona market’s restaurants before the shooting began. While one witness told Israel’s army radio that one of the shooters was dressed as an ultra orthodox Jew, others said they were simply dressed in white shirts and black trousers.
Video footage of the incident showed what appeared to be a policeman or security guard firing a pistol towards one of the suspected attackers.
One witness, Tomer, described a minute of panic and shooting to the Israeli website Ynet.
“We were sitting outside and a round of bullets (were fired). Everyone started running. This is not like a normal terror attack. The shots were fired for at least a minute. There was a panic, and we were asked to go inside the building.”
Meital Sassi told Channel 10 TV she was out with her family celebrating her son’s birthday when she heard shots and “immediately understood it was a terror attack”.
“We ran like lightning with the baby and the stroller ... I yelled at people who didn’t understand what was happening to run,” she said.
The popular complex is home to Israel’s largest indoor culinary market but had faced criticism earlier this year from authorities over security failings.
Israel has been struggling to cope with eight months of Palestinian attacks that have killed 28 Israelis and two Americans. About 200 Palestinians have been killed during that time, most identified as attackers by Israel.