07 Apr 2022 | 09:48 PM UTC
Israel: Manhunt for gunman continues in Tel Aviv as of early April 8 after shooting attack kills at least two people, wounds eight others /update 2
Israeli authorities in Tel Aviv continue search for gunman as of early April 8 after shooting attack leaves several casualties.
Event
As of early April 8, more than a thousand Israeli police officers and soldiers are continuing to search for the perpetrator in a shooting attack that took place in a central Tel Aviv restaurant district late April 7. The assault, which targeted multiple locations on Dizengoff Street, killed two people and wounded at least eight others; the confirmed casualty count may rise over the coming hours. Authorities have instructed people in the area to avoid the scene of the attack, stay inside, and lock their doors. In a departure from earlier reporting, police now assert that they suspect that a single gunman carried out the assault.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the assailant may be a Palestinian from the northern West Bank; Palestinian sources have accordingly claimed that Israeli troops have launched security operations around Tulkarm. While the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militant organizations have praised the attack, no group immediately claimed responsibility.
Police have requested the suspension of all public transportation in Tel Aviv as the manhunt continues. Heightened security and lingering transport disruptions are likely in the city center amid the operation over the coming hours, especially in the vicinity of Dizengoff Street.
Context
Authorities in Israel have bolstered security nationwide in the aftermath of three terror attacks that killed 11 people since March 22. The series of attacks - in Be'er Sheva, Hadera, and Bnei Brak - made March 2022 one of the deadliest months in Israel's recent history.
The attacks come ahead of a confluence of religious observances in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The Muslim month of Ramadan started April 2, while the weeklong Jewish period of Passover begins April 15. Further complicating the security situation is the celebration of Easter among Catholic and Protestant Christians April 17, as well as Orthodox Easter April 24.
Advice
Avoid the affected area. Maintain heightened vigilance if operating in Tel Aviv early April 8. Prepare for lingering transport disruptions; consider taking alternative routes and means of transport to mitigate the impact. Adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.
