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Gay Israelis rally after shooting | Gay Israelis rally after shooting |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Hundreds of Israelis have joined a rally organised by the gay community after shootings at a gay youth centre. | Hundreds of Israelis have joined a rally organised by the gay community after shootings at a gay youth centre. |
Two people died and at least 11 were hurt when the gunman opened fire at the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Association before fleeing. | Two people died and at least 11 were hurt when the gunman opened fire at the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Association before fleeing. |
The city's Mayor, Ron Huldai, said the motive was unclear and police declined to comment except to say a Palestinian link was not suspected. | The city's Mayor, Ron Huldai, said the motive was unclear and police declined to comment except to say a Palestinian link was not suspected. |
But the protesters condemned the attack as Israel's worst hate crime. | But the protesters condemned the attack as Israel's worst hate crime. |
"I fear that if the man who did this is not found, the consequences to the gay community might be far-reaching - they might live in fear," said 47-year-old lawyer Arnon Hirsch. | "I fear that if the man who did this is not found, the consequences to the gay community might be far-reaching - they might live in fear," said 47-year-old lawyer Arnon Hirsch. |
Protesters said it was the country's worst hate crime | |
The attacker, wearing a mask, opened fire indiscriminately with a pistol inside the centre on Nachmani Street. | The attacker, wearing a mask, opened fire indiscriminately with a pistol inside the centre on Nachmani Street. |
The two people he killed were a man aged 26 and a 17-year-old girl. | The two people he killed were a man aged 26 and a 17-year-old girl. |
Survivors described how the attacker kept firing as visitors to the centre dived for cover. | Survivors described how the attacker kept firing as visitors to the centre dived for cover. |
"I took cover with someone under a table, and he kept firing," said one injured teenager, Or Gil. | "I took cover with someone under a table, and he kept firing," said one injured teenager, Or Gil. |
"When I got up it was horrifying, I just saw blood." | "When I got up it was horrifying, I just saw blood." |
Gay rights activist Mike Hamel criticised religiously-driven hatred of homosexuals. | Gay rights activist Mike Hamel criticised religiously-driven hatred of homosexuals. |
"Beyond the pain, the frustration and the anger, we are facing a situation in which the incitement to hate creates an environment that allows this to happen," he said. | "Beyond the pain, the frustration and the anger, we are facing a situation in which the incitement to hate creates an environment that allows this to happen," he said. |
One worker at the centre said some parents of the teenagers did not know their children were gay until they received phone calls telling them their children had been injured. | One worker at the centre said some parents of the teenagers did not know their children were gay until they received phone calls telling them their children had been injured. |
Support pledged | Support pledged |
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring the killer to justice. | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring the killer to justice. |
Opposition leader Tzipi Livni, who attended the rally, said the attack should strengthen young people who wanted to come out of the closet. | Opposition leader Tzipi Livni, who attended the rally, said the attack should strengthen young people who wanted to come out of the closet. |
People from the gay community are allowed to serve openly in the military, and couples are given a measure of legal recognition. | People from the gay community are allowed to serve openly in the military, and couples are given a measure of legal recognition. |