An attack in a crowded market in Tel Aviv in Israel has killed four civilians and wounded nine others.
CNN.com reports that the attack has been confirmed as an act of terrorism. RelevantMagazine.com reports that the two attackers are Palestinian cousins.
Authorities believe they have identified the four victims in the attack, who are all Israelis. The victims are :Idan Ben Arieh, 42, Ilana Naveh, 39, Michael Faiga, 58, and Mila Mishayev, 32.
The Sarona Market where the gunman carried out the attack is difficult to secure, say authorities, because it is a popular outdoor mall.
At the time of the attack, the Sarona Market was crowded. "People were having coffee. I saw a birthday cake on one of the tables," said Amir Ohana, a member of the Israeli Parliament who was a witness to the attack. "And then you see the chairs upside down and glass shattered and blood all over."
The attack took place during the Muslim holy time of Ramadan--a time when attacks by Muslims often increase in the Middle East.
"Two things happen at Ramadan in Israel. Number one, you expect attacks, and number two, you're loosening up the security measures between Gaza and the West Bank and Israel," stated Steve Moore, a CNN law enforcement analyst. "So it's kind of the worst of all worlds. So maybe they [the Israelis] didn't have an individual indication of this specific attack, but they knew attacks were coming."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, calling it “a savage crime, murder in the heart of Tel Aviv.”
“We will take the necessary steps to attack the attackers and defend those who need to be defended," he added.
The Israeli government has frozen 83,000 entry permits of Palestinians who are seeking to enter Israel for Ramadan because of the Tel Aviv attack.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: June 9, 2016
