At least two people were killed and 14 more wounded, including several with severe anxiety Thursday evening in a multi-site shooting attack in Tel Aviv, according to MDA.
תיעוד הפיגוע בדיזינגוף: היורה מתקרב ויורה באקדח מטווח קצר במבלים שנמלטים לעל עבר ונכנס לבניין הסמוך pic.twitter.com/NnLkZmIOc7
— Josh Breiner (@JoshBreiner) April 7, 2022
All of the wounded were taken to nearby hospitals, according to Magen David Adom (MDA).
MDA supplied 145 units of blood and blood components to the hospital, according to an MDA spokesperson.
The hospital initiated its multi-casualty procedure and opened its public information line. Dial 1-255-133 for information.
The first attack took place in a pub on Dizengoff Street, one of the city’s busiest shopping area.
CCTV of people escaping the shooting attack in Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/jV1FQ4mGCd
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) April 7, 2022
At least one terrorist is still at large.
זהו המחבל שנמלט מזירת הפיגוע בדיזינגוף. pic.twitter.com/wqMkrMAh4F
— Or Heller אור הלר (@OrHeller) April 7, 2022
IDF Special Forces Join Search for Terrorist
Special forces from the IDF joined a search by hundreds of Israel Police officers late Thursday night as they hunted for the escaped terrorist.
Among the special forces involved in the search were the elite Sayeret Matkal, Shaldag (Air Force) and Shayetet (Navy) units.
The forces set up roadblocks and checkpoints around the city and were searching all cars leaving Tel Aviv. A building-by-building search was also being carried out around Dizengoff Street.
In addition, all public transportation in Tel Aviv was shut down.
Please Stay Home!
“The public is asked not to come to the scene and to allow the security forces to handle the incident,” Israel Police told reporters.
They emphasized that people at home are asked to stay at home, and stay away from the windows.
Viewers heard renewed shooting on Dizengoff Street as Israeli journalists were updating their reports.
3 Seriously Injured
MDA supplied 145 units of blood and blood components to the hospital, according to an MDA spokesperson.
The hospital initiated its multi-casualty procedure and opened its public information line. Dial 1-255-133 for information.
United Hatzalah and MDA medics and paramedics provided medical treatment and evacuated a total of nine to Ichilov Hospital, Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, and Wolfson Hospital.
“Two men in their 30s were evacuated to Ichilov Hospital during resuscitation operations and after the doctors’ efforts, their deaths were determined,” an MDA spokesperson said.
“Three seriously injured, including a 38-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man were evacuated to Ichilov Hospital with gunshot wounds.
“Four lightly wounded were evacuated to hospitals, including a 30-year-old man taken to Sheba with a gunshot wound.”
Two of the injured were taken to Wolfson Hospital with limb injuries (no gunshot wounds).
30,000 Say Prayers for the Victims
Some 30,000 Chabad-Lubavitch Hassidim were at Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium for an event marking the 120th birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt”l when the attack unfolded.
Trapped in the location due to security concerns, organizers turned the event into a mass prayer recital, with those gathered reciting Tehillim for the victims and their families.
At the site of the attack on Dizengoff Street, a lone Hassid was seen praying for the victims and for the People of Israel, ignoring the physical danger he might have been facing.
Israel Reacts
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett convened a late-night situation assessment at the IDF Kirya Headquarters with Defense Minister Benny Ganz, Minister of Internal Security Omer Bar-Lev and senior members of the defense establishment.
A spokesperson said following the meeting, “Following a consultation between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and security officials, it was agreed to continue reinforcing and pouring large-scale forces into Tel Aviv.”
This is the first week of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time in which terrorism typically spikes. In Israel, terrorist organizations have repeatedly broadcast the fantasy that “Jewish settlers” are “storming the Al Aqsa Mosque” on the Temple Mount, whipping Muslim worshipers into a maximum frenzy.
The attack took place less than 24 hours before the first Ramadan Friday, when hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshipers are expected to flood into Jerusalem.
Religious Zionism party head and Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich urged the government to consider rescinding permission for the multitudes to enter from the Palestinian Authority for prayers.
“I call on the Minister of Defense to immediately cancel the “facilitation of Ramadan” that is supposed to allow tens of thousands of Judea and Samaria Arabs to enter Jerusalem and the Temple Mount tomorrow. Play with Israel’s security!” he said.
