Two police officers have been shot dead in a terrorist attack in the northern Israeli city of Hadera.
Nineteen-year-old Border Police officers Yazan Falah and Shirel Abukarat died in the attack after two gunmen opened fire in the heart of the city.
Officer Falah lived in the Druze village of Kisra-Sumei in the Galilee and only joined the Border Police a year ago, while Officer Abukarat, who lived in Netanya, joined just six months ago. A Border Police statement said the men who killed the terrorists “fought with bravery” and “saved many lives”.
The gunmen, bearded and wearing white overalls, were shot dead by a unit of undercover officers who were eating at a nearby restaurant. The men, both Israeli Arabs, were today named as cousins Ibrahim and Ayman Agrabia.
Weapons seized following the shooting show the men came armed with 1,000 bullets.
The atrocity came five just days after an IS supporter killed four Israeli civilians in the southern city of Be’er Sheva and occurred as Israel hosted a historic summit with three Arab League states.
F220327FF52 Flash 90 Hadera
Israeli police officers are seen at the scene of a shooting attack in Hadera, March 27, 2022. Two police officers were killed and several other people were wounded in a shooting attack in the northern city of Hadera on Sunday night, police and medics said. Photo by Flash90
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack which has fuelled fears of a fresh wave of terror orchestrated by Iran.
Security forces carried out a number of arrests in the Arab city of Umm el-Fahm near Hadera following the deadly attack, including the brother of one of the terrorists and four others detained on being members of an IS cell in the city. It is being reported the brother of one of the terrorists is himself a police officer.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss last night tweeted: “Shocked by the appalling terror attack in Israel …I condemn this devastating violence and my thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand with Israel.”
Shocked by the appalling terror attack in Israel this evening.
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) March 27, 2022
I condemn this devastating violence and my thoughts are with the victims and their families.
We stand with Israel 🇮🇱🇬🇧
US Secretary Antony Blinken said: “Such senseless acts of violence and murder have no place in society. We stand with our Israeli partners and send our condolences to the families of the victims.”
Security footage from the scene shows the gunmen open fire on passers by and at a police waiting at a bus stop. One of the gunmen shoots several times at a victim on the ground before taking his rifle and opening fire on a man riding by on a bike. Several officers were hurt in the gun battle and four other people were taken to hospital before undercover officers killed the terrorists.
Terrifying footage shows the moment that the Hadera gunmen opened fire on two teenage border police officers. pic.twitter.com/pCqQx4VseQ
— The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) March 28, 2022
The Hillel Yaffe Medical Centre in Hadera said today that of the 12 injured in the attack, five remain in hospital, one suffering serious wounds. Seven have been released after treatment.
Sunday’s attack happened as Israel hosted Arab League states it has normalised ties with and Egypt and the US. All attending condemned the attack which was later praised by Hamas in Gaza as a “heroic operation”.
