Two people were killed and at least eight others were wounded on Thursday after a gunman opened fire in central Tel Aviv, in the latest in a string of deadly terror attacks across Israel.
The gunman was feared to still be on the loose and large security forces - police and IDF soldiers - were running down the main Tel Aviv boulevard in search of the attacker. Police are asking the public to stay at home and get off the streets until the gunman is caught.
The suspected attack was the latest in a series of deadly attacks that began last month in Beersheba, Hadera and Bnei Brak. So far, 11 Israelis have been killed in the attacks.
Security forces were placed on high alert in response to the rise in terrorist attacks in Israel and gunfire targeting IDF troops in the West Bank. Some 1,000 soldiers in special forces training have been sent to help the Israel Police within Israel’s borders and major cities. The IDF also reinforced troops with 14 combat battalions – 12 to the West Bank and two to the Gaza Division.
Hundreds of IDF troops were deployed along the Seam Line in an effort to stop tens of thousands of Palestinians who enter the country on a daily basis through breaches in the security fence.