Gunman shoots at gay club in Tel Aviv, killing 2 people

Gunman kills 2 at gay club in Tel Aviv

JERUSALEM — Israeli police say a gunman entered a youth club for gay teens in central Tel Aviv on Saturday night and sprayed the interior with automatic rifle fire, killing two and injuring 12 people.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said it was “most likely a criminal attack and not a terror attack.” Tel Aviv has been a target for Palestinian militants in the past.

Police are searching the area for the gunman, who fled the scene, he said. Roadblocks were set up.

Rescue services said six of the wounded were badly hurt.

“This was a hate crime, a premeditated attack,” witness Yaniv Weisman told Channel 10 TV. He said Cafe Noir, a basement club, was popular with youth.

“Those hurt were very young,” he said.

Openly gay Knesset lawmaker Nitzan Horowitz said it was “without a doubt the biggest ever attack on the Israeli gay community, we are all in shock.”

Witnesses told Israeli media that the gunman was dressed all in black, and described the scene as a “bloodbath.”