Two dead after killer with semi-automatic rifle opens fire inside Tel Aviv pub

A gunman sprayed bullets into a crowded bar in Tel Aviv on Friday, killing two people and leaving several others seriously injured. The killer rattled off several bursts from a semi-automatic weapons after going in to the Rafinta Bar, near the city’s well-known Dizengoff Center Mall. Bar owner Nati Shaked said the attacker “shot everywhere. There was hysteria and chaos". Early reports suggested two people were dead and eight others were hurt, up to five seriously.

I saw someone armed with an automatic rifle just walked in the street, saw a lot of people here who he could shoot at, and started to shoot.

Bar owner Nati Shaked

It was not clear if it was a criminal attack or an act of terrorism. Police closed off the area but the gunman was thought to be still at large. Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai called on residents to be alert, saying “this looks like nationalist [terror], but it still isn’t clear” what the motive was. Terrorism “attempts to frighten us and disrupt our lives. I urge everyone to take a deep breath, relax, and we will take care of this.“, he added.

When I arrived at the scene I saw a huge commotion. Some of the injured were in the pub and some were lying in the road. I quickly ran to an approximately 35-year-old man who was fully conscious. I gave him life-saving treatment on site and sent him to hospital

Paramedic Shani Mizrachi

Middle East tel aviv