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| Gunman attacks Israeli gay centre | Gunman attacks Israeli gay centre |
| (10 minutes 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: |
| 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 |
| "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. | |
| 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. | |
| "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. |
| 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: | |
| "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," he said. | "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," he said. |
| He said the gay community was demanding to know why it had been targeted: | |
| "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. | |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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 |