A Greek national was among the victims of the terrorist attack in Israel’s Tel Aviv on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
The victim was described as a resident of Jerusalem.
A total of seven people were killed, and several others sustained injuries – some seriously – when a gunman opened fire on members of the public in the Jaffa area. The Israeli Police Spokesperson’s Unit suspects terror as a motive in the incident. Both of the two alleged attackers have been killed, the unit said.
The two suspected terrorists started the killing on the city’s light rail system and continued on foot before they were killed.
In a joint statement, the Israeli police and the Shin Bet security service said seven Israelis were killed and another 16 injured.
“According to the preliminary investigation, two terrorists entered a light rail train cart that had made a stop, opened fire on passengers, and continued attacking pedestrians on foot until they were neutralized by city patrols and civilians using personal firearms…
“The joint Israel Police and Shin Bet investigation revealed that the terrorists were 19-year-old Muhammad Mask, who was killed at the scene, and 25-year-old Ahmad Haymani, who was critically wounded.”
The attackers – both residents of Hebron – had in their possession an M16 rifle, multiple magazines, and a knife, the statement says.
Greece condemns the killing of Greek national in Tel Aviv
In a statement Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry condemned the “terrorist attack” and expressed “heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim.”
According to the Greek news outlet Proto Thema the victim was a 20-year-old, born in Thessaloniki and a resident of Tel Aviv. His father is a doctor in the Israeli city, the report added, without naming him.
The deadly assault occurred shortly before the Iranian missile attack against Israel. About 180 missiles were launched at multiple targets in Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Most of the missiles were intercepted, but “several hits were identified, and the damage is being assessed,” an Israeli security official said.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran will “pay”, for its act.
Meanwhile additional forces are joining Israel’s “limited” ground operation in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says and issued new evacuation orders for people in around 25 villages in southern Lebanon, in addition to evacuation orders issued on Tuesday.
As many as 100 rockets were fired into Israel from Lebanon on Wednesday, Israeli media reports, citing the IDF. Overnight, Israel’s air force continued to strike what it says are Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs – with one Lebanese politician describing the repeated barrages as “traumatizing.”
