At least five people were reportedly killed after an attacker went on a shooting spree in Bnei Barak.
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The apparent terrorist attack comes on the heels of two major attacks in Israel. A week ago four people were murdered in Beersheba when a local Bedouin resident stabbed passersby. On Sunday, another terrorist attack took place in Hadera, with two Islamic State-affiliated terrorists killed two border police officers and hurt several others.
Video: The scene of the attack in central Israel. Free usage under Section 27a of Israeli law
According to the Israel Police, it appears that the attacks were carried out in the form of a drive-by shooting. Some footage suggests the attacker was on foot as he targeted random drivers. The attack apparently was carried out entirely in Bnei Barak in multiple locations near the main artery of Jabotinsky Street, which separates it from Ramat Gan. This triggered reports on multiple attackers, although it appears that there was only one perpetrator.
The attacker, who was reportedly a 27-year-old undocumented Palestinian from a village near Jenin, was killed by security forces in a shootout, but not before he fatally shot a police officer. The attacker served time in Israeli prison although it was not immediately clear what kind of offenses he was imprisoned for and when that was. A second person who may have been connected has been apprehended by security forces.
Video: Social media free usage under Israeli law
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said shortly after the attacks took place that he was convening a special ministerial meeting with the defense minister and various security agencies to discuss the response to the spate of terrorist attack over the past week.
Bennett issued a statement several hours later vowing that "Israel will win" the battle against the "wave of murderous Arab terrorism." He added, "No one will make us leave." The prime minister said his heart goes out to the victims' families and stressed that security forces were conducting a response to the attack. "We will wage an unwavering fight with an iron fist," he continued.
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