Two Israelis were killed and and another wounded after a stabbing in southern Tel Aviv on Thursday afternoon.
Magen David Adom reports the call for the attack came in at 1:59PM. According to the preliminary findings, two terrorists stabbed victims on the fifth floor of the building and then ran down to the second floor, where others were attacked in a store that sells Jewish holy items.
MDA reports there were two other victims, both transported to Ichilov Hospital in Petach Tikvah.
A short time later Ichilov Hospital officials announced that the seriously wounded victim has died of his injuries, bringing the death toll in the attack to two.
One terrorist was wounded, apparently seriously. It does not appear he was shot but possibly as civilians tracked him to the ground and restrained him. Eyewitness state they are certain there were two terrorists. A second attacker may have succeeded in fleeing the scene. This is yet to be determined.
Israel Police Yiftach District Commander David Gaz says at present, it appears there was only one attacker but searches continue to be sure as in cases like these it takes time to make a final determination since there are so many conflicting reports from eyewitnesses.
Eyewitness Shimon Vaknin was among the 15-20 people taking part in the prayers in the Panorama Building in Tel Aviv when the stabbing attack occurred, shortly before 2:00pm on Thursday.
He explains “I arrived in the building for a meeting. The person I was meeting with told me ‘we made it in time for prayers’ and I too prayed. “There were between 15-20 people. During the prayers a Jewish man stumbled, full of blood, falling on some of us”.
He was the first victim and then the others realized quickly what was taking place and they tried to get the attacker, albeit without success.
Vaknin adds “I have a weapon and ran out after the terrorist who fled”. It appears he then ran to a lower floor and stabbed others. Vaknin adds the people were working on stopping the bleeding from the victim, who was bleeding profusely and a tourniquet was applied in an effort to stop his bleeding.
Ichilov Hospital has since reported R”L a second victim has died of his injuries. A third victim of the attack is in Ichilov, listed in moderate condition.
The area of the first attack was a foyer to a synagogue.
