Israel Channel 2 news reporter Gilad Shalmor told the Journal that Wednesday’s terrorist attack by two Palestinians that left four dead in an upscale Tel Aviv marketplace “was one of the most gruesome ones I’ve ever covered.”
“I’ve been covering too many terror attacks,” Shalmor said in a phone interview at approximately 1 a.m. on Thursday in Israel. “This was one of the most gruesome ones I’ve ever covered.”
The shooting at Sarona Market began at a Max Brenner, a chocolate cafe chain, and left six wounded, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The two Palestinian men, who have been taken into custody— one is being treated for wounds after being shot by a shopping mall security guard, Shalmor said—were dressed in suits.
“All we know so far is two youngsters from the West Bank came in wearing … two suits. … After ordering dinner they took out the rifles and started shooting randomly, which caused the death of four people.
“After that they escaped. They threw away their rifles, they ran away and eventually were captured by a cop and a security guard. They [police] found bags with [the terrorists], leather bags filled with knives and obviously the police estimation is that they planned, after they finished their [ammunition] they planned to stab random people in the streets,” said the Israeli reporter, who arrived onto the scene two minutes after the shooting, which he said began at 9:18 p.m.
“That’s what we know so far,” he said. “It was a great big mess.”
The attack comes on the heels of a series of stabbings of Israelis that have been occurring in Jerusalem over the course of the year. Shalmor, for his part, said it is rare for incidents such as these to occur in Tel Aviv, a city that is known for its fun-loving lifestyle.
“Tel Aviv people are vibrant and life-loving,” he said, “but I think they are having a tough time dealing with such a thing.”
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