JERUSALEM — A gunman killed one person and wounded five others in a series of drive-by shootings in central Israel on Sunday, in an incident that police described as a suspected terror attack.
The attacks occurred in and around Kochav Yair and Tzur Yitzhak, communities near the Green Line bordering the occupied West Bank north of Tel Aviv, authorities said. The shootings began around 8 a.m. local time at a gas station and continued at other locations in the area.
Israeli police identified the main attacker as Omar Yassin, a 21-year-old Arab Israeli from the nearby city of Tayibe. Security forces shot and killed him during a confrontation following a brief pursuit, police said. A second suspect from the same town was arrested as an alleged accomplice.
Magen David Adom emergency services said a 35-year-old man was killed at the gas station. Five others were wounded, two of them seriously, according to first responders. The victims included civilians at multiple sites.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the incident. “This morning, a heinous terrorist went out, reached Kochav Yair, and unfortunately managed, before being eliminated, to murder an Israeli citizen and injure others,” he said, praising the response by police and security forces.
President Isaac Herzog said he was “shocked by the horrific terror attack” and offered condolences to the victim’s family while praying for the recovery of the wounded.
Police recovered a firearm and the vehicle used in the shootings. Residents in the area were initially instructed to remain indoors as security forces conducted searches. A large operation was launched in the region following the attacks.
The incident took place against the backdrop of heightened security concerns in Israel. Details on the attacker’s motive remain under investigation, police said. No group immediately claimed responsibility.
Israeli authorities described the shootings as a terror attack. The area near Kochav Yair has seen previous security incidents due to its proximity to the West Bank.
The situation has been brought under control with the neutralization of the main attacker and the arrest of the alleged accomplice, officials said. Investigations continue into the full circumstances of the attack.
