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| Gunman attacks Israeli gay centre | Gunman attacks Israeli gay centre |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A lone gunman has killed two people and wounded at least 10 at a gay support centre in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv before escaping. | A lone gunman has killed two people and wounded at least 10 at a gay support centre in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv before escaping. |
| Most of the victims were gay teenagers, who were meeting at the centre on Nachmani street when the gunman entered and started firing indiscriminately. | Most of the victims were gay teenagers, who were meeting at the centre on Nachmani street when the gunman entered and started firing indiscriminately. |
| The black-clad man is still at large and police have ordered the temporary closure of all gay clubs in the city. | The black-clad man is still at large and police have ordered the temporary closure of all gay clubs in the city. |
| Gay leaders say it is Israel's worst-ever hate crime against the community. | Gay leaders say it is Israel's worst-ever hate crime against the community. |
| That's actually the surprising issue, there is not at all any homophobic activity in Tel Aviv Yaron Arad Tel Aviv hotel worker | That's actually the surprising issue, there is not at all any homophobic activity in Tel Aviv Yaron Arad Tel Aviv hotel worker |
| Witnesses said the gunman fired in all directions with a handgun. | Witnesses said the gunman fired in all directions with a handgun. |
| At one point, three deaths were being reported but later accounts spoke only of two fatalities - that of a young man and a young woman. | At one point, three deaths were being reported but later accounts spoke only of two fatalities - that of a young man and a young woman. |
| The shootings took place at the headquarters of the local lesbian and gay rights association. | The shootings took place at the headquarters of the local lesbian and gay rights association. |
| Shock | Shock |
| Anon Shabtie, who works at the Evita gay bar close to the centre, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the gunman had attacked a place which helped young gay people: | Anon Shabtie, who works at the Evita gay bar close to the centre, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the gunman had attacked a place which helped young gay people: |
| EYEWITNESS Yaniv Weisman, head of Israel's youth Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association | EYEWITNESS Yaniv Weisman, head of Israel's youth Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association |
| We still don't know who is behind this attack but someone that knew this place - because it's not a place you can see outside - knew exactly where is the place, got in, and just shot everyone there. | We still don't know who is behind this attack but someone that knew this place - because it's not a place you can see outside - knew exactly where is the place, got in, and just shot everyone there. |
| It's a horrible, horrible shock for the gay community, and the Tel Aviv municipality. Tel Aviv is supposed to be a very safe city. | It's a horrible, horrible shock for the gay community, and the Tel Aviv municipality. Tel Aviv is supposed to be a very safe city. |
| There is a big anger and if we will know that behind this action it's a religious movement, we will punish the people behind it, and the gay community here is very strong, and there will be a reaction from the gay community and the people in the government will be the first one to give us answers. | There is a big anger and if we will know that behind this action it's a religious movement, we will punish the people behind it, and the gay community here is very strong, and there will be a reaction from the gay community and the people in the government will be the first one to give us answers. |
| "We have a centre for people who want to go out of the closet or get support from the community and they come there every day and there are people supporting them. | "We have a centre for people who want to go out of the closet or get support from the community and they come there every day and there are people supporting them. |
| "And unfortunately on Saturday evening there are teenagers coming there and they were like I don't know many guys sitting there with a guy who help them. | "And unfortunately on Saturday evening there are teenagers coming there and they were like I don't know many guys sitting there with a guy who help them. |
| "And then the guy came with a helmet on his head and he was shooting them without any reason." | "And then the guy came with a helmet on his head and he was shooting them without any reason." |
| Hundreds of lesbian and gay Israelis held a rally and lit candles in Tel Aviv in protest at the shooting. | Hundreds of lesbian and gay Israelis held a rally and lit candles in Tel Aviv in protest at the shooting. |
| One woman said she was "terrified, shocked, surprised, amazed" by the attack "because it was so unexpected". | One woman said she was "terrified, shocked, surprised, amazed" by the attack "because it was so unexpected". |
| Yaron Arad, who works at a nearby hotel, said the gay community was part of the city. | Yaron Arad, who works at a nearby hotel, said the gay community was part of the city. |
| "We know that Tel Aviv has a very lively gay community with plenty of activities going around," he told the BBC. | "We know that Tel Aviv has a very lively gay community with plenty of activities going around," he told the BBC. |
| "That's actually the surprising issue, there is not at all any homophobic activity in Tel Aviv. | "That's actually the surprising issue, there is not at all any homophobic activity in Tel Aviv. |
| "Jerusalem does not naturally accept the gay community but here in Tel Aviv it's different, totally different story. A lot of parties, a lot of gay people having fun here. That's why it's so shocking what's happened here tonight." | "Jerusalem does not naturally accept the gay community but here in Tel Aviv it's different, totally different story. A lot of parties, a lot of gay people having fun here. That's why it's so shocking what's happened here tonight." |
| 'Inside knowledge' | 'Inside knowledge' |
| Annual gay pride marches are often met with violent protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem. | Annual gay pride marches are often met with violent protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem. |
| A rally was held in support of the city's gay community after the attack | A rally was held in support of the city's gay community after the attack |
| The head of Israel's youth Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association, Yaniv Weisman, told the BBC the gunman must have intended to attack the centre "because it's not a place you can see outside". | The head of Israel's youth Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association, Yaniv Weisman, told the BBC the gunman must have intended to attack the centre "because it's not a place you can see outside". |
| He said the gay community was demanding to know why it had been targeted. | He said the gay community was demanding to know why it had been targeted. |
| "The gay community in Israel, in Tel Aviv, today got a message, a very strong message, a red light, that Israel, Tel Aviv, no longer a safe place to no one," he said. | |
| "And if someone can give himself the option just to say like hate and to say things against the gay community, today he can see the pictures and to see what these words can lead to." | |
| Tel Aviv has in the past been targeted in attacks by Palestinian militants but there was no suggestion that Saturday's attack had a political motive. | Tel Aviv has in the past been targeted in attacks by Palestinian militants but there was no suggestion that Saturday's attack had a political motive. |
| A police spokesman described the attack as "criminal rather than nationalistic". | A police spokesman described the attack as "criminal rather than nationalistic". |
| Are you in the area of the shooting? Did you see what happened? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the area of the shooting? Did you see what happened? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |