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4 Israelis dead, multiple injured in Tel Aviv market shooting

21:30 Jun 8 2016 Sarona Market, Tel Aviv,

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Photos: Israeli forces inspect the scene of a deadly shooting attack in Tel Aviv on June 8, 2016. (Credit: Israeli police) Published by Maan News and Haaretz

The scene of a shooting in food and retail center Sarona Market, Tel Aviv, Israel, June 8, 2016. Credit: Haaretz

Video: Police Shoot Tel Aviv Shooter (המשטרה לירות תל אביב יורה) Published on YouTube, cited by Haaretz
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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- At least four Israelis were killed and 10 injured in a shooting at the Sarona Market in Tel Aviv around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, according to Israeli emergency services Magen David Adom (MDA).

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said in a statement that the shooters, whose names have yet to be confirmed, were two Palestinians from the same family from the town of Yatta, south of the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.

Multiple gunshots were heard at the open-air shopping center in the heart of Tel Aviv, adjacent to Israeli army and Ministry of Defense headquarters on Wednesday evening. According to al-Samri, shots were fired both inside and outside of the Sarona Market.

According to Haaretz, two armed men dressed in suits opened fire at passersby near the Benedict restaurant and then at the nearby Haarbaa Street.

Haaretz also reported that at least six of the wounded had been evacuated to Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital and that another was taken to Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer. At least three were in moderate condition after they underwent surgery and two in light condition. The injured at Sheba was reportedly in moderate condition.

Al-Samri said that both suspected shooters were in custody and being treated at Ichilov hospital -- one in critical condition and one in mild condition.

In the same statement, al-Samri refuted claims of a third suspected assailant, but said investigations were still ongoing.

In her initial statement regarding the shooting, al-Samri reported that one alleged assailant had been "neutralized" and was reportedly lying on the sidewalk on Haarbaa Street, which has been completely closed.
Al-Samri added that the shooting was a suspected "terrorist attack," but that investigations were still ongoing.

According to Haaretz, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who returned to Israel on Wednesday from Moscow, convened a security briefing in Tel Aviv, and announced a meeting scheduled for Thursday, which will be attended by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, and Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich.

More than 200 Palestinians and nearly 30 Israelis have been killed since a wave of unrest began in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory in October. The surge of violence has been largely characterized by small-scale Palestinian attacks on Israeli military targets and settlers.

According to Al-Samri, Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan was holding an emergency meeting regarding the shootings on Wednesday night.
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Two Palestinian gunmen open fire at passersby at the Sarona Market food and retail center ■ Police capture attackers ■ Netanyahu convenes emergency security briefing.

by Yaniv Kubovich, Ido Efrati and Barak Ravid for Haaretz
Jun 08, 2016 11:55 PM

Four people were killed and six others were wounded in a shooting attack at a food and shopping center in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, after two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on passersby. Netanyahu called a security briefing in Tel Aviv.

All of the wounded were evacuated to nearby hospitals. One of the shooters was captured by police and taken in for questioning, and the other was taken to Ichilov Hospital in serious but stable condition.

Five of wounded have been evacuated to Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital and another was taken to Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer. Three are in moderate condition after they underwent surgery and two are in light condition. The casualty at Sheba is in moderate condition.

Police said they had no prior knowledge of the two Palestinian attackers, who entered Israel illegally. Palestinian sources said the attackers were members of the same family and are from the Hebron area.

The attack took place at Sarona Market, an upscale food and retail center located opposite to the military headquarters in central Tel Aviv and near government buildings. Police said they received a call at 9:30 P.M. regarding shootings heard at Sarona. As emergency forces were making their way to the scene, there was another of a shooting incident at near the food and shopping center.

According to initial reports, two armed men dressed in suits opened fire at passersby near the Benedict restaurant. A shooter then reportedly opened fire at the nearby Ha'arbaa Street, where he was eventually captured by police.

Tel Aviv district police chief Moshe Edri said there was no prior terror alert before the shooting occurred and there was no information about an additional terrorist at large.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport from Moscow soon after the shooting and headed straight to the Defense Ministry near the shooting for consultations with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Police chief Roni Alsheich, Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman and other officials.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner condemned the "horrific terrorist attack" in a statement, saying "cowardly attacks against innocent civilians can never be justified."

"This is a very difficult night for Tel Aviv-Jaffa," said Mayor Ron Huldai as he arrived at Ichilov Hospital. "Again, we have an incident in which terrorists, apparently after sitting at a café, took out their guns and fired indiscriminately.

"Tel Aviv-Jaffa has been for years a target for terrorism, trying to disrupt our lives," Huldai added. "Terrorism will not overpower us and I suggest to all of us to strive for peace. Security forces are still in the field and the investigation continues. I ask everyone to follow the reports in the media and tomorrow to return to life as usual."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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