In Tel Aviv, a deadly shooting and knife attack has left seven people dead, with several others seriously injured, according to Israeli police. The attack took place in the Jaffa district, beginning on a train carriage and continuing on the platform.
Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as a gunman opened fire at random, leaving bodies motionless on the street. Social media footage shows the aftermath, with police confirming that both the gunman and another assailant, armed with a knife, were “neutralized” by civilians. The motive behind the attack has been described as terrorism, although the identities of the attackers have not yet been made public.
Initially, Israeli media outlets speculated the death toll might have reached eight, though this figure could have included the attackers themselves.
The incident occurred just before Iran launched a barrage of missiles targeting Israel, causing further unrest in Tel Aviv. Police officers at the scene had to take cover as air defense systems fired into the sky while air raid sirens rang out across the city.
One witness, Benjamin Ratzon, described the horror, recounting how people were told to hit the ground as the gunman approached before security forces arrived to intercept him. Another witness, speaking to the Jerusalem Post, said they initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks, only to realize it was far more serious.
Several people were injured both inside and outside the synagogue in the area, where volunteer medics from Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service rushed to treat the wounded.