TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – Seven people were killed, and several more were seriously wounded in Tel Aviv when two attackers targeted bystanders with firearms and knives in the Jaffa region. The deadly assault began onboard a railway car and carried over onto the station platform, leading to a gruesome scene of bloodshed.
Israeli authorities have labeled the incident as an act of terrorism, clarifying on social media that the attackers had been neutralized by vigilant civilians. However, their identities have not been disclosed yet. The casualty count was initially reported as eight by some Israeli media, but whether this figure included the attackers remains uncertain.
As investigations unfold, the shooting was followed closely by a missile assault on Israel from Iran, adding to the chaos in the already tense city. Onsite law enforcement personnel had to take cover amidst the sirens of air raids as they watched missiles and air defense rockets fly overhead.
Eyewitness accounts reflect the horror and panic at the scene. One individual at the scene mistakenly perceived the sounds of gunfire to be fireworks before registering the grim reality of the situation. An owner of a local store shuttered their business as soon as they saw masses fleeing the scene, shouting warnings of a terror attack.
The traumatic experience was no less for worshippers at a nearby synagogue. As per Haaretz, a witness said a few attendants who also volunteered at the MDA (Israel’s ambulance service) rushed to aid those injured inside the synagogue and on the streets.